Are You in Trouble with the Law? Four Sources for Finding a Good Lawyer
Did you know that, according to the NAACP, the United States comprises only 5% of the world’s population but accounts for 25% of its prisoners? The fact is that huge numbers of Americans are arrested, brought to court, and incarcerated on a daily basis for a wide variety of crimes. According to the FBI, the most common violent and property crimes are aggravated assault and larceny theft, respectively.
Whatever the crime is you are accused of, whether you are innocent or guilty, you are guaranteed your right to counsel. Further, the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution states that every American has “the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State”. Of course, to take advantage of this, you need to find a good lawyer. Here are the four best sources for finding legal help free that may result in your ability to find a good lawyer.
- NOLO
- LawHelp.org
- The New York City Bar Legal Hotline
- Friends and Family
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NOLO: Law for All is a longstanding source of no cost litigation advice that is frequented both by law students looking to learn and Americans who need legal help fast. NOLO features a vast library of online legal help in the form of question and answer pages. For instance, “Can you file bankruptcy without a lawyer?” was one of the more recent questions addressed. NOLO is a great source for those who want to find a good lawyer and free legal help online, but it lacks the community “ask the lawyer” function that makes other sites so popular.
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LawHelp.org allows you to choose your state from a map and be forwarded to a state-specific guide to a wide variety of legal issues. Like NOLO, LawHelp.org lacks an “ask a lawyer a question” interface. However, it does have comprehensive legal knowledge databases available freely to Americans from all 50 states and listings for reputable attorneys.
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The New York City Bar Association maintains a free legal hotline for anyone looking to speak with a counselor or paralegal about a wide variety of legal issues. These counselors will give you limited but free litigation advice. Further, they may be able to help you find a good lawyer.
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Of course, one of the best ways to find reputable members of any profession is to ask friends and family. While different lawyers specialize in different areas, your loved ones may still know someone who can help you. You should note, however, that the successes your friends and family may have experienced with their lawyers can never guarantee your own.
If you have been struggling to find a good lawyer and free legal advice, then put these four sources to use. Each of the three websites listed provides a way to gain access to low cost legal help. Further, everyone of these sources has the ability to help you find a good lawyer. Put them to use and get the help you need.
