Unless you are a lawyer or have a lawyer in the family, you probably don?t worry about establishing a regular relationship with a lawyer as you would with a doctor or dentist. Like most New Yorkers, you probably don?t need a lawyer for everyday matters. There are times, however, when you may need legal assistance or advice. If you have a limited income, it can be especially difficult to find an attorney to represent you. Fortunately, New York has many resources to help you get the legal assistance you need.
Image via Wikipedia
New York State Bar Association
If you don?t know where to begin, your first stop should be the New York Bar Association. The Bar Association provides a screening service to help you determine what type of lawyer you need. It also maintains a referral service, and will provide you with names of local lawyers who can assist you. The initial consultation with lawyers referred through the Bar Association is provided at a very affordable rate. For Social Security, unemployment and personal injury lawyer new york Bar referrals will provide free initial consultations.
County Legal Aid Bureaus
Most New York counties have Legal Aid Bureaus that provide services to low-income residents. They generally include Public Defenders for criminal matters, and family law attorneys for child custody and child support issues. Each county Bureau provides different services, and some provide low-cost representation for civil matters as well.
Remember that for criminal cases, the United States Constitution ensures that anyone charged with a crime who cannot afford a lawyer will receive representation through the court system. These attorneys are appointed through the Public Defender?s office of each county.
Law Schools, Legal Clinics and Volunteers
Most law schools in New York have a Legal Clinic or volunteer lawyer program. These provide training and experience to law students while providing legal services to low-income clients. Some programs offer a range of legal services, while others may specialize in certain areas such as Elder Law, Environmental Law, or assisting victims of domestic violence.
Non-Profit Law Firms
There are many non-profit or volunteer law firms across the state that provide free or affordable legal services. The range of services is wide, and includes most areas of non-criminal law. These firms can assist with bankruptcies and foreclosures, wills, health care proxies and landlord-tenant disputes.
Personal Referrals
Of course, a word-of-mouth referral or personal recommendation is still one of the best ways to find a lawyer in New York. If a friend or family member is comfortable recommending a lawyer, it?s a good sign that they are happy with his or her services. It is a very efficient way to find legal assistance, and is probably how most people establish their first contact with lawyers.
Hopefully you will not have any legal problems that require a lawyer?s help. However, if you do, these resources will provide the basic starting point for finding a lawyer for your situation.
Similar Posts:
Source: http://mylawyersblog.com/criminal-defense-lawyer/how-to-get-legal-assistance-in-ny
monkey bread letter from santa sweet potato pie sweet potato pie twas the night before christmas norad santa epic beard man
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.