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When you have a legal problem, you should never attempt to handle the matter without a qualified attorney. Whether you are attempting to change the terms of a child custody arrangement, seeking child support, or even if you are merely considering a divorce, you need a family law attorney by your side to help you strategize and who can dispense legal information, while keeping your family's needs in the forefront. Finding a Family Attorney on a Budget We know that not everyone has a bottomless bank account to pay for legal services. Lack of finances is one of the main reasons that many people choose to represent themselves in a legal proceeding. However, acting pro se (without an attorney) can be detrimental to your case. While you may feel like you have a handle on the situation, if you miss a deadline to file a document or fill the document out incorrectly, you could end up worse off than before the legal proceedings began. If you need a family attorney, but don't have the money to pay for an attorney, the following are a few ways to find legal help throughout the East Coast for little or no out-of-pocket costs: • Consider federally funded legal aid programs: These programs are funded by federal grant money and offer low-cost or completely free legal representation to individuals below a certain income threshold. • Find a pro bono lawyer: Many family law firms agree to take on a certain number of pro bono clients each year. Pro bono programs provide free legal counseling to individuals seeking a divorce, separation, or other family law matters such as domestic violence, restraining order hearings, etc. Most of these programs require a person to prove their lack of income. • Work with a self-help legal clinic: These clinics hire attorneys to answer legal questions and help individuals fill out paperwork. While not the same as having a lawyer individually represent your interests, self-help legal clinics can help when you need to fill out paperwork and can't pay an attorney or qualify for pro bono or federally funded programs. Interviewing an Attorney The best way to find a family law attorney that understands your family's particular needs is to interview several attorneys. Just because an attorney practices family law doesn't mean they have experience dealing with cases like yours. For example, individuals dealing with a violent partner and seeking a divorce need a family law attorney that understands the dynamics of domestic violence. To protect your family in a situation like this, your attorney needs to understand the undercurrents of physically and emotionally abusive relationships and how these issues should be addressed in terms of spousal support, child custody, etc. When interviewing an attorney, make sure you ask questions such as the following: • How many cases have you successfully handled like mine? • How do you bill for services? Is your billing done by the hour or on a per-case basis? • When is payment expected? • Do you require a retainer? • What is your time frame for returning phone calls, emails, etc.? • How big is your current caseload? If you are uncomfortable with any of the attorney's answers, continue interviewing attorneys until you find an individual you feel comfortable working with on an ongoing basis. Depending on your particular case, you may be spending a lot of time with your attorney. The attorney-client relationship should be relaxed and fulfilling. If you feel ignored, dismissed, or rushed during the interview, it is likely that this is how you will be treated if you choose this particular person as your lawyer. Finding a family law attorney to meet your needs is completely possible when you take the time to interview several attorneys and follow your gut instincts.
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