How to Get a Lawyer to Take a Federal Case Pro Bono
- 1). Determine the nature of your case. Do you have a criminal matter? A lawsuit? An administrative issue with a federal government agency? You may not be able to determine the exact kind of case you have, but you'll want a general idea, so you don't waste your time contacting attorneys who don't handle your kind of case.
- 2). Contact the American Bar Association. The American Bar Association's Center for Pro Bono maintains a list of attorneys, bar associations, legal aid societies and other organizations or individuals who are available for pro bono work. They'll be able to point you in the right direction in your search for an attorney to represent your federal case.
- 3). Contact the attorneys. Once you have the contact information for the attorneys or organizations who handle your kind of case, call them. Just because they are able to handle your case, doesn't mean they will. If they aren't able or willing to take you on as a client, they'll probably be able to give you the name of someone who will. Keep calling around until you find a lawyer who is willing.
- 4). Meet with your attorney. Once you've found an attorney willing to take you on as a pro bono client, you'll probably need to meet with them. Talk to your attorney and arrange the meeting, making sure to bring any relevant information with you when you go. They may tell you there is no need for you to meet, but either way you'll need to speak with them to determine your next step.
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