I am trying to help two friends find pro bono attorneys. One of my friends is involved in a divorce where the husband has literally left her penniless and unable to afford an attorney. The other one is about to catch his 3rd strike and get 25 to life and has no available help from family and desperately needs an attorney who is not a public defender.
By tntme from Long Beach, CA
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I agree with the other poster about your friend and his third strike. He knew what he was getting into. However, for the person going through the divorce, I would call your state's bar association and ask about firms that do pro bono work in your area. Also, you might want to check with your mayor's office or an agency such as the Salvation Army. Often they will have information about available legal aid for those who cannot afford it. I wouldn't just start calling law firms cold and asking. You probably won't get anywhere doing that.
I did my divorce Pro Se, I filed all the paper work at the court house my self. Look up Pro Se on line for your state. It should be free, mine was through the state.
Call the attorneys in the phone book. I don't think any of them advertise doing pro bono work. I know they don't here, but some of them do at times. It probably depends on the case being discussed. If your friend is a third time offender, maybe the best thing for him to have is a lengthy jail sentence.
I know if I were an attorney I wouldn't take this case pro bono, when there are public defenders. To begin with you will have to find an attorney that believes your friend is innocent.
From what I understand from a friend of mine who is going thru a divorce, she couldn't get a pro bono lawyer unless she was on disability, or social services. She has to use an "associate". But it maybe different in different states.
I know people that have done that. However, where I live most of the attorneys do the first consultation free of charge, and that would be the time to ask about pro bono. The attorneys that have the free initial consultation have that listed right in their ads in the phone book.
Your friend going through a divorce can call several places for advice of who to contact for help with the divorce. One place is her city and/or county courthouse and, if she has children or has been abused, women's shelters.
Your friend up for his third strike is out of luck for pro bono because there must be good reason no family members or friends are willing to hire an attorney for him. He brought his problems on himself so he'll have to use the court appointed public defender and beg the judge for mercy.
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