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Find a Lawyer

Finding a Lawyer

In Lorain County, there are different resources available to help you find a lawyer. Read more to learn about your options for finding and hiring a lawyer.

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Understanding the Basics

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It can seem hard or overwhelming to find a lawyer that fits your problem and budget. However, there are different options that can help, including resources for low-income people who can't afford a lawyer.

Signs its important to find a lawyer

In criminal cases, you have a "right to counsel." That means you have a right to have a lawyer, even if you can't afford to pay one. 

In most civil cases, like divorce, you do not have this same "right to counsel." Some people choose to go forward with their case without a lawyer, which the Court calls "pro se" which is Latin for "on your own behalf." 

However, having a lawyer can make a big difference in your case, especially if:

  • Your case is complicated, like if you share children or a lot of property with the other side.
  • You and the other side don't agree. 
  • You have experienced domestic violence from the other side. 
  • Your immigration status is tied to your marital status.

Where to find a lawyer

In Lorain County, you can seek legal help from:

  • Cleveland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (LRS). The LRS provides help by connecting you to a local lawyer who can help you with your issue or case. They get some basic information about your problem and use that to connect you with one of their members. This can be helpful because, like doctors, lawyers can specialize in certain types of law. There is no charge for receiving a referral from the CMBA's LRS and there is no charge for the initial consultation with the referred lawyer. The lawyers on the service are private attorneys and do charge standard fees if they are able to represent you.
  • Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA). The OSBA provides an online lawyer directory, where you can look up lawyers who are members of the OSBA based on location and the kind of law they practice.
  • Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Legal aids are nonprofit law firms that provide free legal help to low-income people. When you contact legal aid, they will ask you some questions about yourself and your problem. Then they will let you know if they are able to help or if they can connect you with a pro bono attorney. Legal aids have limited resources and cannot always help everyone.

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Legal Help and Lawyers

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