Resources & Answers
We’re here to help you navigate the options before you start being billed by minute. (That may be a slight exaggeration, but lawyers typically bill by hour or fractions of hours, such as every 1/6th of the hour).
So when should you contact a lawyer?
How do you choose which one?
What if you just need help with legal writing or questions but not a trial lawyer?
Can you interview a lawyer before committing to their firm and services?
Help! I Think I Need a Lawyer But Don’t Know Where to Begin.
This site will help you break down your exact needs so that you don’t end up with a lawyer that can certainly handle your case but is actually more than you need and therefore far too expensive. Of course, on the other hand, you’ll want to be sure your lawyer is equip enough to handle your case and not too little. For example, by going through a larger agency or selecting a lawyer who has won every case, you may be paying for a lawyer whose breadth and depth of knowledge is beyond your needs. Or perhaps you don’t even need a lawyer who wins cases- your needs may not include a court lawyer at all and just someone familiar with writing legal documents. Let us help you define your needs by providing quick-to-access information you can easily use to find the lawyer that is best for you.
Is There Such a Thing as Getting Free Advice from a Lawyer?
Some law offices will offer a brief phone conversation with an administrative assistant to evaluate whether or not your needs can be met by someone on their team, but more often than not lawyers bill for all of their time. This means the work rests on your shoulders for figuring out what and who you need before you reach out to their office.
But that is where we can help! While we are not offering you any legal advice for free per say, we are here to help you navigate the industry jargon, types of law and lawyers, and tools to evaluate your needs so that you can make strong, informed decisions moving forward in your process to seek legal counsel.
Being a lawyer is not merely a vocation. It is a public trust, and each of us has an obligation to give back to our communities.
JANET RENO
HELP WITH DIVORCE LAWYERS
Is all advice good? Certainly not. Is too much advice really a thing? Absolutely.
When you start Googling “divorce lawyers,” it can be extremely hard to navigate where to even begin. The first issue with Googling this is that you may not even need a divorce lawyer at all, or not a “full package” divorce lawyer.
What you actually need is to understand what the basic steps to divorce require and then work your way up from there rather than starting from the top down. For example, when a divorce is uncontested, it can be achieved in as little as about $300. You do not actually need to think about courts and judges and being billed hourly.
We will help you navigate exactly what you need by starting with the basics and helping you understand where and how you might need to “build on” to that foundation. Then you can build the smallest but most comprehensive list of legal items you’ll need for your divorce, from start to finish.
LAWYER HELP NEAR ME
We provide you with this directory of lawyers and their contact information directly here. That way you can link to exactly the firms and lawyers we recommend for the services you need.
Who Helps Lawyers?
Is a Lawyer My Only Option?
Are there various levels to lawyers? What if I don’t think I need a full Law and Order style team and only need help with some quick legal questions or what should be an easy task because it’s between amicable parties?
The good news is that there are other solutions than just hiring a lawyer or having to commit to paying a large retainer for anticipated large-scope legal fees.
Paralegals, for example, mostly work within a law firm (although some work as independent contractors) and have trained in law work specifically, but they likely do not have a law degree or active license to practice law in the state. Paralegals are qualified to perform their responsibilities by completing an educational program, receiving training on the job, or through actual work experience. They are not licensed as attorneys are. American Bar defines paralegals as those who “perform substantive legal work that would otherwise be done by attorneys…Attorneys remain responsible for legal work delegated to paralegals and must supervise paralegals’ work.”
Be aware that not all states have regulations on the term “paralegal,” so always be sure to vet potential paralegals for their training and qualifications if you are going through a paralegal who works as a private contractor. There are many certifications you can check for, such as certificates from the NALA: The Paralegal Association, which has designations for Certified Paralegal (CP) or Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP), or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), which designates those who pass its competency exam as Registered Paralegals (RP).
In Michigan, “the only individuals who can draft legal documents for other people or give legal advice are lawyers licensed to practice law in Michigan.” So while you may be able to seek legal advice or advice about law from people other than lawyers themselves, “Any non-lawyer who drafts legal documents, gives legal advice, or gives the impression that they are an attorney when they are not may be guilty of the unauthorized practice of law.”
Additionally, be aware and weary of companies, especially online, that “draft legal documents for a fee, including divorce, bankruptcy, and estate planning documents such as wills and trusts.”
We can help you navigate exactly what you need, and how you can use paralegal and other legal advice to your advantage before turning to a lawyer to finalize your needed outcome.
