Finding a Low Cost Lawyer

Hiring a competent lawyer is crucial when you need legal advice. Many people feel that they can't afford the hefty price tag commonly associated with hiring a lawyer so they do without. Being ill advised or trying to do it yourself when you don't understand the process can be a big mistake. The court system is a complex one to navigate for novices. Not all attorney fees are out of reach, however. Here are some tips for obtaining legal advice on a limited budget.

- Depending on the nature of the case, fees can paid be on a contingency basis. This means that the law firm is paid a percentage of a settlement after it has been awarded. This means that the money is deducted only after a case has been won. The client pays no money up front. This fee structure would be appropriate for certain types of litigation such as medical malpractice, personal injury or accident cases.

- Legal aid services are available to those with low incomes. In this organization, attorneys work on a volunteer basis in order to help those who cannot afford the price tag on traditional representation.

- Publicly available websites for legal information can help answer many questions. Some of these sites are geared for certain age groups such as http://www.lawforkids.org or http://www.lawforseniors.org.

- There are even options for those "in-between" citizens whose income is too high to qualify for aid but too low to pay full price. One such organization is called Modest Means.

- Sometimes a client doesn't require the full blown services of an attorney but could have their needs met with an hour of helpful advice. Sometimes just having their questions answered, obtaining advice to sort out a snag, filling out paperwork or drafting a letter can all resolve their legal issue.

- Paralegal services are helpful for advice at a lower rate, as well. Although they are not trained as thoroughly as an attorney, for simple matters, a paralegal may be a suitable substitute. If the issue is beyond their level of expertise, however, the customer will be referred to an attorney.

- Do-it-yourself divorce or will kits may be appropriate for extremely simple cut and dried matters, especially if the person carrying it out is very detail oriented and adept at dealing with bureaucratic paperwork, such as income taxes.

If a person has a moderate or low income and finds themselves in need of a good lawyer, they can rest assured that there are options that will work for them.