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How do I Choose the Best Pro Bono Child Custody Lawyer?
A pro bono child custody lawyer helps clients with custody cases without charging his typical legal fees. To choose the best pro bono child custody lawyer, you may need to start out by determining which attorneys are offering pro bono services in your area. With this information in mind, you can then compare lawyers bases on their experience, reputation, and availability to take on your case. You may also schedule a consultation with a lawyer you are considering to determine whether you will feel comfortable working with him. Having a good rapport with your lawyer may have an effect on your satisfaction with the progress of your case.
It is important to understand that you may not be able to simply choose a pro bono child custody lawyer. Usually, lawyers offer pro bono services to clients they feel are deserving. A pro bono lawyer may be willing to handle your case for free if you are in dire need of legal help and are dealing with some type of financial hardship. For example, if you are unemployed, underemployed, or disabled, you may have a good chance of securing pro bono services. Additionally, you may have an easier time securing pro bono help if you have been, or the child involved in the case has been, a victim of abuse.
To begin the process of choosing a pro bono child custody lawyer, you’ll likely need to figure out which lawyers are offering pro bono services. You may look for help through an organization that provides legal help to low-income individuals, but you may not always get to choose the lawyer who helps you in such a case. You may also call custody lawyers and family law firms and ask whether they are available for pro bono work. In some places, family law attorneys are required to provide a minimum number of hours of pro bono services each year. Some firms even have coordinators who handle the acceptance and scheduling of pro bono work.
Once you know which lawyers are available for pro bono work, you may compare them based on a range of factors. For example, you may feel more secure with choosing a lawyer who has significant experience dealing with child custody cases. You may also do well to choose a lawyer who has a reputation for acting in an ethical manner and securing satisfactory outcomes for his clients. While no lawyer can win all of his cases, choosing one with a good track record for success may help you to have confidence in his ability. Additionally, you may find it important to choose a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable, as a good rapport with your attorney may make working together to win your case much easier.
Discussion Comments
In most states (perhaps all) there are legal aid offices available that have staff attorneys who take on cases for people who can't afford attorneys and often have a volunteer panel of attorneys to handle cases for no fee. If you're looking for a pro bono attorney, the local legal aid office is the place to start.
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