Legal aid is the provision of assistance to individuals who are otherwise unable to afford private legal representation and access to a formalized court system. Legal aid is regarded as fundamental in providing access to justice through by ensuring that all individuals secure the right to a fair trial and the right to counsel. If you are a defendant in a criminal case and you cannot afford to hire a legal professional , you are entitled to legal aid lawyers related to the charges and legal representation in the form of a public defender. 

Legal aid lawyers have a close relationship with the welfare state; these legal professionals are supplied by the state to impoverished or financially troubled individuals. In the United States, legal aid lawyers are delivered through a number of models. For example, in the “staff attorney model” legal aid lawyers are employed on salary solely to offer legal representation to low-income clients—this model is similar to how staff doctors operate in a public hospital. In the “judicare model” legal aid lawyers are private lawyers and their coordinate law firm. These professionals are paid to handle cases from eligible clients alongside cases from fee-paying clients—this model is similar to doctors are paid to handle Medicare patients in the United States. Lastly, the “community legal clinic” format utilizes non-profit legal clinics to serve a particular community through a broad range of legal services (for example education, law reform and representation)—this format is similar to how a community health clinic operates. 

If you cannot afford legal representation, the United States government provides a number of outlets for you to secure a legal aid lawyer. 

One of the ways to secure a legal aid lawyer is through the use of Federally Funded Programs. The United States Federal Government offers grants to fund a national network of legal aid lawyers, who in turn, are responsible for representing low-income individuals in civil matters. These programs offer staff attorneys and experienced paralegals to assist with an assortment of cases, revolving around divorce, landlord-tenant issues, subsidized housing, unemployment, public assistance and Social Security cases,. These legal aid lawyers are also experienced with non-legal resources, such as temporary housing, food banks and domestic violence shelters. 

The majority of legal aid lawyer offices only aid people with incomes below a certain threshold. These programs may also consider your assets when evaluating your income. To evaluate your eligibility for attaining a legal aid lawyer, check your local phone directory under “legal aid lawyers” or “legal services.”

In addition to federally-funded programs, a number of bar associations in the United States implement pro bono programs, which are staffed by legal aid lawyers (note: these legal professionals serve as private attorneys outside of the state’s program) who have agreed to provide free representation to eligible clients. Eligibility requirements; however, will impede some prospective clients from securing pro bono legal aid lawyers.

To receive the representation of this type of legal aid lawyer you must meet your state’s requirements on income and other factors. Pro bono legal aid lawyers may be supplied to you if you exhibit a certain illness or disability that prevents you from securing employment. For example, having a debilitating disease, such as AIDS, being a victim of spousal abuse or being elderly are certain factors that will award you with pro bono legal aid lawyer help. 

As with other legal aid lawyer service programs, you may have to prove your income–as well as the value–of your assets before obtaining representation. 

A number of local and county bar associations offer free self-help clinics. These services provide lawyer volunteers to those in need of legal representation. These types of legal aid lawyers will answer your questions and help you fill-out forms to ensure that you adhere to your state’s legal protocol. Self-help clinics may be held weekly or monthly; you may be able to talk with a legal aid lawyer individually or you may pose questions as part of a larger group. 

In addition to these services, a number of local courthouses will provide legal aid lawyers to facilitate the processing of legal claims and forms. These legal aid lawyers will elucidate on the filing requirements for an assortment of legal documents and procedures. A courthouse facilitator will help you file your legal claims and forms, elucidate the process of adhering to protocol and ensure that your claims or paperwork is mailed to right person/address. 

Aside from legal aid lawyers, all states in the U.S. have networks of public defenders that provide free or cheap legal aid solely to criminal defendants. This form of legal aid lawyer is available only to clients who fall below the state’s minimum income level. In order to secure these legal aid lawyers, the client must provide documentation expounding their lack of income. 

• If I win my settlement will I have to pay you a contingency fee? Do I have to cover any of my legal costs?

• I’m broke, but my family has money—will this disrupt my ability to pursuit a legal aid lawyer?

• Will your caseload get in the way of sufficiently representing me?

       Yaz is a pharmaceutical product that was developed by Schering AG and is now marketed and manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals.  Yaz is a birth control product that consists of a synthetic form of progesterone.  The drug  acts by confusing the body into believing it is pregnant.  Yaz prevents an egg from being released and expands the uterine wall in order to prevent sperm from entering and causing pregnancy.

       Yaz has been linked to a number of serious medical conditions including: gall bladder disease, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, liver tumors, high blood pressure, pancreatis, and breast cancer.  

       Bayer Pharmaceuticals has been sited numerous times by the FDA about the serious side effects associated with Yaz and currently there are over 8,000 individual lawsuits that have been filed against Bayer in association with serious medical conditions that have resulted from the use of Yaz as a birth control product.

       A Yaz lawyer is an attorney who specializes in pharmaceutical litigation.  Yaz lawyers often take the form of class action lawyers who focus specifically on medical product litigation.  If you have been injured by the use of Yaz then seeking a Yaz lawyer is something that should be number one on your agenda.  

       You can file a claim, and litigate, as an individual using your own personal Yaz lawyer but it is a better plan to become a part of a class action lawsuit involving Yaz lawyers.  There are a number of reasons for this.  First, when you are going against a pharmaecutical company on your own you will often only have one Yaz lawyer representing you in litigation.  The pharmaceutical companies have teams of lawyers whose only job is to protect the company in issues involving litigation over defective pharmaceutical products.  When you are involved in a class action with other people the potential settlement is going to be much higher and therefore the class action is more likely to have a team of Yaz lawyers and staff devoted solely to that case.

       Another reason to get involved in a class action is the time involved in an action against a pharmaceutical company.  Litigation can last for years and when you go at it alone with your own Yaz lawyer the pharmaceutical companies are more prone to delay the case as long as possible, hoping that you and your Yaz lawyer will run out of funds to continue pursuing the claim.  When you are involved in a class action lawsuit with Yaz lawyers the pharmaceutical companies are less likely to take this approach.  When there is an entire firm, or firms, of Yaz lawyers devoted to representing a class in a pharmaceutical action there is more money available for litigation and litigation is less likely to cease due to lack of funds.

       Currently there are 8,000 individual cases pending in the United States against Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Yaz.  These cases are set to be tried in both federal and state courts throughout the nation.  All of these cases have recently been consolidated into MDLs, or Multi-District Litigation.  Multi-District Litigation is when an MDL panel reviews your case to see if it should be consolidated with a number of other pending cases.  The goal of Multi-District Litigation is to streamline the litigation process and create judicial efficiency.

       MDLs have the benefit of making litigation faster and less costly by negating the use of double discovery and creating one judicial trial instead of thousands of similar ones.  Your case may be filed into an MDL by your request or it may be placed into a current MDL through judicial action.  You should discuss whether or not to get involved in an MDL with your Yaz lawyer.

       The MDL in the Federal court system is taking place in the U.S. District Court for the Southern DIstrict of Illinois.  The State court system has consolidated their cases into MDLs as well.  In New Jersey the Yaz MDL is taking place in the Bergen Superior Court and the action in Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia Superior Court.  Your Yaz lawyer will be able to help you decide whether you should file in an MDL.  Yaz lawyers will also aid you in filing with the court for inclusion in an MDL and will know where to do so.

       Because these actions are in both Federal and State courts you may have the option of filing your claim in either one.  Your Yaz lawyer will know which court system will best benefit your case.  There are many different procedural rules associated with litigation in federal court, as opposed to state court, which can seriously affect the outcome of litigation.  Yaz lawyers, and class action lawyers in general, will know which system is best for your case.

       When looking for a Yaz lawyer you should contact the federal or state court where you are looking to file and seek information on how to contact the Yaz lawyers handling the MDLs in those cases.  If you wish to litigate as an individual you can take advantage of the “find a lawyer” link on the top of this page to seek experienced and knowledgeable Yaz lawyers who can help you decide what action to take.

       Your Yaz lawyer should be experienced in litigating actions against pharmaceutical companies.  In addition you need to find a Yaz lawyer who is barred in either the state where you will be litigating or barred by the federal court where the action will be commenced.  You should also be represented by a large firm that specializes in class action lawsuits.  You will prefer to have a team of yaz lawyers working on your case.  The more damages you can seek for your injury the more likely you will have a greater team of Yaz lawyers representing you in your lawsuit.

       The rates that are associated with Yaz lawyers is on a contingency basis.  This means that a Yaz lawyer will not charge you a flat fee, retainer, or hourly rate to litigate your claim.  The Yaz lawyer, will instead, take a percentage of any award that you receive from an award or settlement, this is often 30% of the award however some courts limit the amount that a Yaz lawyer can receive from their representation.

Brooklyn, on its own has a population of over 2 million, making it one of the most populated counties in the nation as well as the New York Metropolitan area.  As such, you can expect a great variety of Brooklyn lawyers available to assist you with you legal issue.  Although there are lawyers all over new York city, if your case is no proceed in a Brooklyn court, you should consider having a Brooklyn lawyer who will be familiar with the legal professionals, traditions and local laws that may prove to be an edge curing your legal matter.

While not a serious issue, the New York City smoking ban is one example of a local ordinance that is different from state and federal laws.  In New York City, it is illegal to smoke inside all restaurants and bars as well as public parks.  Violators could be charged with a $50 fine for disobeying this law.  while you will not find yourself in legal trouble or need a lawyer for a violation of this law, there are other more important laws, such as laws against firearms that follow this trend of strict enforcement or local laws, necessitating having a local Brooklyn lawyer.

The Brooklyn Bar Association is an important organization for Brooklyn lawyers.  The primary functions of the BBA are professional networking and providing continuing legal education classes.  The BBA also has its own lawyer referral service that is backed by the American Bar Association.  There is a fee of $25 to use this service, but this fee is waived for workers’ compensation, personal injury and Social Security matters.  All Brooklyn lawyers in this service must have malpractice insurance and are vetted before becoming part of the service.  There is also a fee dispute resolution process and a volunteer lawyers project to help needy Brooklyn residents.

The New York State Bar Association is the voluntary professional organization for lawyers in New York State.  It provides professional mentoring, ethics opinions and other critical services for new and experienced lawyers alike.  The NYSBA does have a lawyer referral service, but it does not do referrals within New York City.  Your Brooklyn lawyer may be a member of the NYSBA and you may use membership in this organization as an indicator of legitimacy and professionalism.

The New York City Bar is the primary voluntary bar association for New York City lawyers.  Among the important functions of the NYCB are providing professional counseling, Continuing Legal Education classes and networking opportunities.  There NYCB also engages in legislative advocacy, working for more fairness in the legal system and hosting workshops on key legal issues.  Together with the New York County Lawyer’s Association, these organizations provide the Legal Referral Service, which can refer New York City residents to a lawyer in a number of specific areas, including family, injury and malpractice law.  There is no cost to use this service and all participating lawyers are prescreened to determine their suitability.  The lawyer will charge up to $35 for a half hour consultation but the fee may be waived depending on the lawyer and the nature of the legal matter.

The retainer is the most common fee arrangement for a non-injury or non-litigation case.  In this arrangement, the client fills a trust account that the Brooklyn lawyer will bill for services provided.  The nature and cost of these services is determined in advance, usually during or directly after the initial consultation.  The account is refilled at the discretion of the lawyer and this will be expensive, depending on the length of the legal matter.

Brooklyn injury lawyers will generally work on contingency for these types of cases.  In this arrangement, the lawyer will collect a percentage of the jury award, usually around 33%.  That fee may be subject to legal caps and the approval of the court.  Courts may impose caps on contingency fees if these fees are perceived to be too high.  You may be able to work with your Brooklyn lawyer to pay a lower contingency fee if the case is settled out of court, which would eliminate the imposition of punitive damages and other potential benefits.

Legal aid clinics, usually provided by community and academic institutions in conjunction with local Brooklyn lawyers will also be able to help with non-trial legal issues and questions.  The Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project can provide legal assistance as long as you fall below the federal poverty level and meet a certain threshold, determined by the type of legal help you need.  You can be represented in a family, consumer or elder law case or receive an uncontested divorce through the VLP.

You will need to be able to communicate effectively with your Brooklyn lawyer to ensure your needs are met.  You will also need to define under what circumstances you will contact your lawyer.  Some lawyers will bill you for questions answered over the phone or internet so be aware of these fees in advance.

Remember to utilize the BBA and other fee dispute resolution services if you believe you have been overbilled or otherwise treated unfairly by your Brooklyn lawyer.  This will help you resolve the fee dispute and be compensated for losses, if the mediators deem it necessary.

Professional conduct is important and Brooklyn lawyers that constantly feud with other lawyers or fail to display proper decorum in court will greatly compromise your case.  Ensure that your Brooklyn lawyer is professional and ethical before continuing your relationship and accepting legal services.

How much do I pay for the initial consultation?

How does my case relate to New York state and local laws?

What are your fees and do you have alternate payment plans?

Can I please have all fees in writing?

Are you an active member, in good standing, of any state or local bar association?

What roles do you play as a member?

Have you been disciplined by any regulatory body?

What are my options if I have trouble affording standard legal representation?

What are my chances of winning a settlement or at trial?

Can you refer me to another lawyer if you are unable to take my case?

     Immigration lawyers and Visa lawyer specialists help people who are seeking to visit, live, work, or educate themselves in the United States.  Visas are granted for the following reasons:

– Temporary visas may be granted for brief visits, such as vacations or business trips by a foreign national into the United States. 

– Immigrant visas may be granted for those seeking longer periods of residency in the United States for education or temporary work. 

– Finally, for those seeking to permanently move to the United States, an immigrant visa needs to be obtained.

     It is often a necessity that a foreign national seek legal help for obtaining visas, especially when there are language and cultural barriers.  

     You should come to your visa lawyer with a specific reason for wanting to obtain a visa and what you want to do with it.  If you are seeking a visa for a temporary visit or vacation, it can be obtained through your home country’s governmental agencies.  Visas for longer durations will require the help of a visa lawyer in the United States.  You must identify your reasons for obtaining the visa, the amount of time you will need it for, and if any other friends or family will be joining you. 

     Visa lawyers are available in most areas, but will predominately be found in major metropolitan areas where foreign nationals will typically first move to the United States.  Their services may often be advertised through different media sources or may be recommended from other members of the community.  Try to conduct some form of research into your chosen visa lawyer, in order to assure yourself that you are choosing a qualified and trustworthy visa lawyer. 

     You can use this website to find a visa lawyer in your area.  To do so, use the search function at the top of the page to find, compare, and ask legal questions for law professionals in your area.  

     Immigration and visa lawyers are a highly specialized group of attorneys that focus their attention on the needs of communities in need.  They are often connected to specific cultural groups and have special language skills to help they communicate with their clients and to better help them assimilate into the culture of the United States.  Seeking a visa lawyer with experience in visa law, especially one that is connected to your background, may help you in seeking a visa.  

     Prepare all the necessary documents that are needed to obtain a visa. Make sure you have them organized and ready for your visa lawyer  to review and evaluate.  You will need identifying documents, work papers, and any other documents that identify you, your country of origin, and any special skills you may have or schools you will be attending.  Come prepared to discuss what you want to accomplish by obtaining a visa lawyer, and how you want your lawyer to help you. The more information you can provide to your lawyer the better and quicker they can represent you.  Finally, ensure that you are truthful and have all of your factual information correct.  Any mistakes may result in loss of your visa and immigration problems.  

     Come prepared with questions ready for your visa lawyer.  Don’t be afraid to ask if you do not understand something or want to learn more about the process.  Your lawyer should be ready give you the information you need to be comfortable with the visa and immigration process.  

     Any visa lawyer you seek must have graduated from an accredited law school and passed the bar exam in the state in which they are practicing.  Ensure that they have had experience helping others obtain visas and that they have a network of connections to help you in your transition to the United States.  To ensure the trustworthiness of your lawyer, check with the state bar association to find any ethical violations, sanctions, or consumer complaints that may have been made against a lawyer you do not know.  

     Advertising and name recognition are not the only sources of information you should rely on when selecting visa lawyers.  Find information from unbiased sources to back up any claims of advertisements.  

     Experienced visa lawyers will know the immigration process and requirements for obtaining visas.  They will have helped others in the past obtain their visas and have guided them smoothly through the process.  Be aware of unreasonable fees or excessive claims.  Your visa lawyer should be able to help, but it will be a long process that requires a commitment of time and effort by your lawyer.  It is for these reasons that you find a lawyer that you can be assured will spend the appropriate time on your case and not leave your visa applications and paperwork to wait.  

     Typically, visa lawyers charge their clients a flat fee, for filing applications, appealing denials, or any other number of specific legal services they may provide.  For more technical visa issues and legal problems, a visa lawyer may charge an hourly fee and require a substantial retainer fee before starting to provide you with their legal services. 

     Check with your local visa lawyers for estimates of fees and rates, also taking into account any expenses that may also be incurred.  Be sure to choose a lawyer that has both reasonable fees but also has the necessary experience to represent you.  

     Think about the following when discussing your visa application with your lawyer:

– What are the fees that you require and what other expenses should I expert to pay for your services.

– How long should this process take and what will happen if my visa is denied or other problems arise?

– How can I contact you? When are you available for consultation and advice when I have questions?  When will you update me on my case and what can I do to help the process along? 

     A K1 visa lawyer works with clients who intend to have a marriage between a U.S. citizen and a foreign national who is not currently in the United States.  K1 visas require that the marriage will take place within 90 days of issuance of the visa.  Once the couple marries, the foreign national will have the status of permanent resident and will be allowed to live and work in the United States.  Most K1 visas are granted when they are applied for, however a small percentage are denied due to questionable paperwork or suspect marriages. 

     If you are seeking a K1 visa, it is important that you stay in contact with your fiancée.  Visa lawyers will be available to file the paperwork, but it will be important that you coordinate travel plans, marriage plans, and your visa applications for your fiancée. Visa lawyer should be consulted during this process to best estimate the times and chances of approval, so working closely with a K1 visa lawyer is very important. 

     An H1B visa lawyer works with clients who are seeking temporary employment for a United States employer.  Only specific skilled workers may qualify, including architects, engineers, lawyers, accountants, and business experts.  Before applying for an H1B visa, a client should consult with their H1B visa lawyer as whether they will qualify and how long the visa will be valid.  This should be coordinated between the worker, the U.S. company, and the lawyer.  A United States employer must sponsor a potential temporary worker for their application of this specific type of visa, so it is important that they timely file all appropriate legal documents for their prospective employee. 

A brain injury is a life-changing event that has a number of consequences for the injured person.  If another party is responsible for the injury, a New York brain injury lawyer can help hold that party responsible and collect benefits on your behalf.  The statute of limitations for (non-medical) personal injury cases in New York is three years, so speed is important when finding a New York brain injury lawyer that ensures you will have ample time to organize your case.  In the event of medical error, you will only have two and a half years to file a medical malpractice case, although the statute begins only when the injury is discovered.

You can only sue for damages if you have sustained actual brain injuries.  When meeting with a New York brain injury lawyer, ensure that you bring medical documentation of the accident or injury that caused brain damage.  If applicable, bring police reports if the authorities were involved.  This will help to define the amount of negligence for each party in the accident lawsuit.  

There are three typical categories of damages that can be recovered in these cases:

– Non-economic

o These are damages for pain and suffering as a result of the injuries.  This represents harm to both the individual and the individual’s family.

– Compensatory

o These are direct damages to the economic welfare of the injured person and represents medical expenses, lost wages, and other potential income lost by way of the brain injury.

– Punitive 

o The courts may decide to punish excessive negligence or disregard for the welfare of the injured through punitive damages on the defendants.  These damages make an example of the defendants and represent particularly egregious violations in the standard of care or duty.

You should check with your local and state bar association for assistance in finding a legitimate New York brain injury lawyer.  The New York State Bar Association is the state bar association for New York and maintains standards of professionalism and ethics for its members.  Membership in this association is not mandatory and many New York brain injury lawyers will be members of at least local bar associations.  This is especially the case in New York City where many lawyers are active members of the New York City Bar Association.

The New York State Bar Association maintains a low cost lawyer referral service that will even waive the typical referral fee of $35 for injury cases, reflecting the likely contingency arrangement.  New York City will have its own referral service – the Legal Referral Service, which has rates comparable to the state service.  These services refer individuals to a number of lawyers in different legal professions and the fees may be waived for brain injury cases.  These services also provide information, in case the issue the client has can be resolved through non-lawyer means.  All lawyers participating in these referral services are vetted by their experience working with clients, winning settlements, and experience in their field.

If there is any negligence on the part of the injured person, the award received can be reduced by a percentage of that person’s negligence in causing the injury.  This is called comparative negligence and under state law, a liable party can be less liable for injuries due to the actions of the injured person.  There may also be multiple parties that share the liability.  As long as the liability of the injured person does not exceed that of the other parties, the injured person or relatives of the injured person are entitled to collect damages.

The state of New York limits injury lawyers to collecting the following percentages from jury awards:

– 30 percent of the first $250,000

– 25 percent of the next $250,000

– 20 percent of the next $500,000

– 15 percent of the next $250,000

– 10 percent of any amount over $1,250,000

Also, keep in mind that claims over $250,000 will be paid in installments no longer than ten years from the award.  This represents a debt that must be paid by the liable party and this debt cannot be discharged.

With this in mind, a NY injury lawyer that works on contingency is the best option for your case.  Contingency arrangements minimize the costs to the clients and often will cost the client very little if the case is lost.  Many lawyer referral services will also allow for free consultations for personal injury cases.

While even in contingency arrangements, there are court and other fees to be paid.  A contingency arrangement is preferable to a retainer arrangement, especially if your case will take a while to be resolved.  Many injury cases can last a significant amount of time depending on if the other party intends to dispute your claim.  You will want a contingency agreement, which will help you avoid costly hourly fees or an uncontrollable retainer account.  

Depending on the arrangement, the NY injury lawyer will have a greater incentive to end the case quickly, yet maximize the damages paid so the contingency fee will be higher.  This will eliminate the potential punitive damages that would be imposed on the liable party.  You and your lawyer should come to an understanding of how the case will proceed so you both can enter settlement with an agenda and common goals.

Take advantage of free consultations when they are available to discuss potential fees and payment arrangements with New York lawyers.  You may be able to arrange low cost and extended payment for legal services at the discretion of the attorney or law firm.

How does my case relate to New York State and local laws?

What are your fees and do you have alternate payment plans?

Are you an active member, in good standing, of the New York State Bar Association?

What roles do you play as a member?

Can I please have all fees in writing?

Have there been recent developments in tort reform that will place limitations on my case?

Can you refer me to another lawyer if you are unable to take my case?

Can you estimate the percentage of my negligent actions will affect the damages collected in this case?

What are my chances of winning a settlement or at trial?  

Do you believe we should accept a settlement, or should we go to trial?

A New York criminal defense lawyer is essential to proving your innocence and defending your good name when are you are accused or arrested for a crime committed in New York.  There is a wide variety of New York criminal defense lawyers available for each section of the criminal code, even white collar crime that tends to be a major legal issue in New York City.  A New York criminal defense lawyer will be familiar with the New York criminal code and will argue on your behalf for your innocence or negotiate plea bargains and lesser punishments for criminal offenses.

The NYSACDL is a statewide organization of New York criminal defense lawyers that work to protect the rights of criminal defendants and advocate for their rights in the justice system.  This association maintains a legislative agenda to reform the criminal code to protect the rights of criminal defendants and also promotes Continuing Legal Education classes to brief member lawyers of new developments to the criminal code.  Members of this and the New York Criminal Bar Association are some of the best New York criminal defense lawyers that are backed by the resources of these organizations and relevant professional relationships that will assist you through your criminal case.

Since bar association membership is not mandatory, there is no readily available, surefire way of ensuring that your New York criminal defense lawyer is legitimate.  You can check with the lawyer and determine if he or she is a member of a bar association.  You can then verify active membership in that bar association directly.  Alternatively, you may ask to examine the lawyer credentials, including certification of admission to the Bar in New York.  All lawyers must have attended law school and passed the bar to practice law in New York.

A lawyer referral and information service is a useful tool to find a New York criminal defense lawyer, although you may also use this site to find a skilled legal professional that will take your case.

The New York State Bar Association maintains a low cost lawyer referral service that will even waive the typical referral fee of $35 for accident cases.  The lawyer referral service will not cover referrals to New York City lawyers, as this is left up to organizations such as the New York City Bar Association.  

The New York County Lawyers Association and the New York City Bar Association combine to provide the Legal Referral Service, which can refer New York City residents to a lawyer in a number of specific areas, with subdivisions in criminal for drug, white collar and other areas of criminal law.  There is no cost to use this service and all participating lawyers are prescreened to determine their suitability.  The lawyer will charge up to $35 for a half hour consultation.  This screening process for this service has the lawyer explain to a panel their experience in the specific field of law they are applying to receive referrals including details on clients represented and verdicts won.  After the screening process, the individual using the lawyer referral service can be assured that they will receive quality representation.

Any time you meet with a New York criminal defense lawyer, you must be completely honest and conceal nothing.  Bring an account of all facts of the case including possible witnesses and evidence that can be used against you, to your knowledge.  You want the New York criminal defense lawyer to be as prepared as possible to defend you at trial.  Incomplete information will compromise your case and there is only so much a New York criminal defense lawyer can do at that point to prove your innocence or secure a favorable plea bargain.

Research fees before the consultation, if such fees are available.  You must be aware of how much you are willing to spend on your criminal defense.  This determination will define your negotiations with the New York criminal defense lawyer and the nature of services you will receive.  Remember that any fees are estimates or ranges and will not reflect your actual experience.  Criminal trials can drag on, depending on the circumstances and fees will be accrued via retainer, finding expert witnesses and paying court fees.

Factors affecting your case usually include the length of the trial and severity of the charges against you.  Disputed cases are long and as such, will be more expensive.  Some lawyers will also mandate a retainer account in addition to another fee arrangement, such as hourly billing.  Ensure you receive all fees in writing to avoid potential overbilling or deceptive fees on the part of the lawyer.  The retainer is an advance payment for legal services and is billed at the discretion of the criminal defense lawyer.  This retainer can be filled at the discretion of the New York criminal defense lawyer so this will become a pricy arrangement if not carefully negotiated with the lawyer.

Hourly fees are not recommended for criminal defense cases due to the number of hearings and legal preparation that will need to be done during the process.  Hourly fees are high as a lawyer’s time is valuable and you may be able to reap the most utility out of your legal representation through other payment agreements.

Take advantage of free consultations when they are available to discuss potential fees and payment arrangements with New York criminal lawyers.  The above fee arrangements do not consider court costs, which are also paid by the client.  You may be able to arrange low cost and extended payment for legal services at the discretion of the attorney or law firm.

Free and pro bono services are also available, the most popular being public defenders.  All other free services will be limited both in scope and availability.  Defending juvenile offenders or indigent persons are popular services provided by legal pro bono organizations.  There will also be criminal defense clinics where you can receive free legal advice, but not legal representation.  You will generally have to take the services of a public defender if you cannot afford a lawyer, but you may be able to receive quality representation from a pro bono New York criminal lawyer if your case is compelling enough and you meet the set eligibility requirements.

How does my case relate to New York state and local laws?

What are your fees and do you have alternate payment plans?

If I am a juvenile defendant, what are the chances I will be tried as an adult?

Should I take a plea bargain arrangement to lessen the charges against me?

When dealing with a criminal defense matter in New York, one may be tempted to use the services of a public defender or spend as little as possible on legal representation.  This is not always the best strategy.  Criminal defense lawyers in New York are motivated to protect their clients from prosecution and will work to prove your innocence or secure a plea deal that lessens the severity of the punishments against you.  Criminal defense lawyers in New York will specialize in a number of varied fields in including white collar criminal defense and drug crimes offenses.  This specialized experience may mean the difference at your criminal trial and may criminal defense lawyers in New York will be willing to work out payment plans for clients that demonstrate sufficient need.