If you’re like many, when you most need a lawyer that’s the time you can least afford one!
You're hardly alone; don’t give up. More than 60 percent of divorce cases filed involve at least one side without a lawyer. When you need an attorney to help you with your legal claims, there are some options for finding free or inexpensive legal help.
1. Federally Funded Programs: There is a national network of legal services offices receiving federal funds to provide free legal help in civil (not criminal) cases to low-income people. Services are generally provided by staff attorneys and sometimes paralegals with experience in certain areas, such as divorce, landlord-tenant problems, subsidized housing, public assistance, Social Security and unemployment. Additionally, these legal services lawyers may also be able to point you toward non-legal help such as temporary housing, domestic violence shelters and food banks. Most legal services offices set an income limit to qualify for their services, and some programs also consider all your assets, regardless of how much money you're making.
2. State Legal Aid Programs: There are state programs to provide free legal help to low-income individuals who have civil (not criminal) cases as well. These services are usually associated with local or county bar associations. There are income limits and total value of assets in order to qualify for services.
3. Pro Bono Programs: Many state, local and county bar associations have "pro bono" ("for the good" in Latin) programs manned by local attorneys who have agreed to provide free legal representation to those who qualify, either because of income or circumstances, such as AIDS, a battering husband, being over 65, etc. As with legal services offices, you may have to prove your income level as well as the value of your assets.
4. Self-Help Clinics: Some local and county bar associations put on free self-help clinics, where volunteer lawyers answer questions and help with forms.
5. Courthouse Facilitators: Increasingly, county courthouses have facilitators to help people process their legal claims. Check with your local bar association or courthouse to see what's available. At a minimum, a courthouse facilitator can help you figure out where you should file your paperwork and walk you through the process of getting your paperwork to the right people within the court system.
6. Litigation Support Service Providers: Along the lines of a courthouse facilitator, many paralegals with experience in certain areas, such as divorce, landlord-tenant problems, contract disputes, subsidized housing, public assistance, and unemployment can assist you with the paperwork and help you file your claim.
7. Public Defender Organizations: All states have networks of criminal public defenders that provide free or low-cost legal help to defendants in criminal cases. People have to meet income eligibility requirements.
8. Low-Cost Legal Programs: More and more programs are available for people who earn too much to qualify for legal services or pro bono programs, but don't make enough to hire an attorney at traditional rates. If you fall into this category, which a lot of us do, there are telephone hotlines and internet collaborations of attorneys that charge by the minute or have sliding-fee programs to get you the advice and representation you need at the lowest price possible.
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http://www.deponex.com is one such litigation support services provider.
http://research.lawyers.com/When-You-Cant-Afford-a-Lawyer.html