Free Legal Services Reviewed

Free consultations

Any new client is potentially a significant asset, and most law firms are prepared to spend considerable resources in acquiring them. However, it is also true that not all clients are born equal, and many law firms have mechanisms for filtering out unwanted clients, including those that ultimately cannot afford the services and those labeled "more trouble than they are worth."

Legal advice typically costs $150-$300 an hour, hence it should come as no shock that lawyers often offer “free consultations.” In our experience, many lawyers are willing to provide a good deal of information prior to turning on the meter, in which case they do perform a valuable community service. Not all lawyers are so sincere, however, and people's ability to benefit from a free consultation varies depending on their communication skills, business sense, temperament, and so on. In other words, accepting a lawyer's offer for a free consultation may entail some risk unless it is arranged as part of professional pre-screening services.  

Legal aid

Many lawyers participate in official programs such as legal aid, which are intended to provide free legal assistance to those lacking the financial means to pay for it. However, legal aid comes with certain inherent limitations.

In serious criminal cases, legal aid is an entitlement, not a privilege in most developed countries and some developing countries as well. In the United States, the constitution guarantees free legal assistance to people who have been charged with a crime that may lead to imprisonment and who cannot afford a lawyer. Once a court has found a person "indigent" - i.e. with no substantial assets and no funds to pay for a lawyer - either a public defender or a private lawyer paid by the state is to be appointed.  

In civil cases, legal aid more closely resembles a privilege than an entitlement. Such help is non-existing in most developing countries, and cannot be taken for granted even in developed countries. In the United States, legal aid programs are widely available, but eligibility is usually confined to people with an income below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, which again varies somewhat between the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, and Hawaii. Other countries similarly use household income to determine eligibility, which in turn means that such programs can be narrowed or widened as a result of changing laws or administrative guidelines. Put differently, access to legal aid may change from time to time due to economical or political circumstances.

What legal aid covers exactly varies a great deal depending on the jurisdiction. The lawyer should certainly be able to provide the client with a better understanding of his or her legal situation, explain what legal options are available, and propose a legal strategy. The lawyer should also be able to write a letter or two on the client's behalf, which will in many cases suffice to solve the problem. By contrast, legal aid oftentimes does not cover time-consuming and costly legal work such as filing a law suit, court appearances, or meetings with opponents. Some jurisdictions offer additional financial support to eligible applicants for such purposes, but this is the exception rather than the general rule.

For the public good

In addition to legal aid, some lawyers perform legal work for free (“pro bono”), either as part of a program or on a case-by-case basis. Pro bono programs are usually sponsored by a State or local bar association, meaning that eligibility is subject to specific guidelines.

Outside of such programs, lawyers sometimes perform pro bono work on a case-by-case basis. Some of these lawyers help a small number of persons who cannot afford an attorney, but who still do not qualify for free legal assistance for one reason or another. Other lawyers only work pro bono where the case is prestigious and/or involves some principle the lawyer deems important. In cases that involve serious criminal charges, civil rights abuse, or other difficult problems, an expert lawyer working pro bono may provide superior assistance compared with what a court-appointed defense lawyer would be able to offer.  

Free online legal services

The Internet has enabled lawyers to do effective research outside their main areas of expertise and to further extend their reach through collaboration with colleagues from all over the world. As databases of knowledge are being built, this virtual environment has the potential for becoming a valuable supplement to the free legal services described above. Most frequently asked legal questions have a straightforward answer that can be made available online within hours or days, and many legal problems can be solved via email. At a minimum, these lawyers can contribute valuable information and contacts towards a solution.  

Feel free to post a comment if you are in need of free assistance or have questions about any of the issues discussed in this article.