Legalities

Legalities, a weekly column that appears in the Help section of the Southern Illinoisan, is a free service of the Self Help Legal Center. You can visit the Southern Illinoisan website at: http://www.southernillinoisan.com/

Q: I have a simple question. How do I find an attorney to take my case? Is there some master list of attorneys? Where can I get a referral? What happens if no one will take my case?

A: People are often surprised to discover that finding an attorney is not much different than finding a plumber, a car repair shop, or a pizza delivery service.

The best way to find an attorney is to use one that you have used before. This would, of course, assume that you liked the attorney that you used before and that they have the expertise to handle your particular type of problem.

If you have never used an attorney before (or if you did and you don’t want to use him/her again), then you should ask someone you know and trust to refer someone to you.

If this doesn’t work, then (like finding a plumber or a local pizza place that delivers) you can either just check the Yellow Pages and start calling attorneys, or you can try the Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service.

If you decide to start calling attorneys from the Yellow Pages, please keep a few things in mind.

First, not all attorneys have the expertise or knowledge to handle your case. Ask the attorney if he/she has handled your type of case before and, if so, what the results were. Please note that the Illinois Supreme Court does not certify lawyers as  “specialists” in a particular legal area. Consequently, just because an attorney advertises as being a “divorce attorney” it does not necessarily mean that they have any special abilities or knowledge of divorce law, passed a certain test about divorce law, or have even done a single divorce case.

Second, not all attorneys charge the same fees, nor do they accept the same types of payment. Some attorneys require you to pay up front, some will let you pay in installments, some will work on a contingency basis, and others won’t charge you until the work is completed.

Finally, not all attorneys practice in every part of the state of Illinois. Due to time and transportation concerns, some attorneys only practice in certain counties. This is especially true in rural areas. Do not assume that because an attorney is licensed in Illinois he/she will take cases anywhere in Illinois.

If you decide to use the Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service either by web at www.isba.org or by phone at 217-525-5297, keep in mind that not all attorneys are listed on the service. Just because an attorney is listed on the service, it does not mean that he/she has experience in a particular area of law. Attorneys on the ISBA Referral Service are required to be licensed to practice law in Illinois, be members of the ISBA, and carry professional liability insurance, nothing more.

 Do you have a legal question? Write us at Self Help Legal Center, SIU School of Law, Mailcode 6804, Carbondale, Illinois or e-mail us at selfhelp@siu.edu. Not all questions will be answered and may be edited for space or content.

Legalities is written by the Self Help Legal Center, a public service of the SIU School of Law. The Self Help Legal Center cannot provide legal representation. It can, however, help you find the answer to your legal problem. This column is for general legal information purposes only and the advice given in this column may not apply to your situation. For specific legal advice about your situation, you should consult an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois. This column is not meant to give legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.