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Posted

Can anyone tell me about their experience with that. This is my only option here in CA because I can't afford an attorney. So please share any advice or your own experience with this if you don't mind. Thank you!

Posted

You get what you pay for.

  • Like 2
Posted
Can anyone tell me about their experience with that. This is my only option here in CA because I can't afford an attorney. So please share any advice or your own experience with this if you don't mind. Thank you!

 

 

i wanted to be a pro bono solicitor.......i wanted to be one so i would give someone who couldnt afford legal representation a kick ass fight till the end ...i have been a support person for many in trouble......i didnt feel they were represented properly or listened to......and the system is badly overworked......

 

i changed my mind though.....when i was talking to a police officer when a family member of mine was in trouble...(i am a bit of a magnet for people with serious problems)....he told me that i would have to represent people who didnt deserve to have their freedom.....even if i believed them to be guilty I had to defend them without prejudice even if they were 100 per cent guilty....even if it was reprehensible what they did...which is an ethical and moral consideration for me.....

 

i feel pro bono do the best that they can..and having legal representation if you cant afford it is better than having none at all ....so if that is your only choice...you have to have a little faith in who is representing you..its all you can do..............deb

Posted

Learn all you can on your own. Participate. Ask lots of questions and don't be afraid to question the attorney's choices. Also get a resume and know the kind of work the pba has done in the past and their win/loss stats. I don't know about CA civil cases but if its a federal case you can ask for a bio of several that may be availabe and have some say in who is assigned to you. That depends on the case and the court tho.

 

Good luck. In spite of the stereotype I think there are some good attorneys out there who do pro bono because the genuinely want to help.

Posted
You get what you pay for.

 

In this instance, not really.

 

Pro bono attorneys have the luxury of working for free. They're typically employed by large law firms (read, top tier graduates) who have pro bono requirements for their associates. Big firms bring big resources, and simply having a big firm representing you can work wonders.

  • Like 1
Posted
In this instance, not really.

 

Pro bono attorneys have the luxury of working for free. They're typically employed by large law firms (read, top tier graduates) who have pro bono requirements for their associates. Big firms bring big resources, and simply having a big firm representing you can work wonders.

 

Absolutely. BigLaw requires pro bono work of all associates and nearly all partners also perform this service.

  • Like 1
Posted

Does your courthouse have a self-help desk? I believe I suggested that in another thread. Also, law schools sometimes offer self-help and mediation services for little to no cost.

 

I recall, when we were using their services, due to the bare-bones nature of the environment, there were other caseworkers helping other people in the same room and I overheard issues much like what you've outlined. If you need help getting forms filled out and filed, that kind of help would be perfect. They don't provide legal advice.

 

I personally would counsel against trying to find a lawyer who would work for free.

Posted

From what I understand, pro bono work is done for causes that the lawyer personally believes in (gay rights, pro-life, etc) or for non-profit organizations.

 

Unless your case is extremely unique, I don't know that a lawyer would agree to work for you for free.

 

Maybe your state bar association can refer you to an attorney who will give you a free one-time consultation, or who will work on a sliding scale for those with a low income.

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Posted

Not going that route. Thanks for sharing!

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