Where to Get Lawyer Advice
Whether you own a small business or are an individual, getting good legal advice can be a big help. But it can also be expensive – especially if you don’t have a lot of money to invest in a full-time lawyer.
Thankfully, there are several ways to get free legal advice that won’t break the bank. This article will explore some of the best places to find this help.
FindLaw
FindLaw is a legal information portal that provides a variety of resources for lawyers and the public. It was founded in 1995 by Stacy Stern, Tim Stanley (now of Justia), and Martin Roscheisen. Its main business is to provide legal information online and offer marketing services for attorneys.
It offers a wide range of marketing strategies and a built-for-you website, among other services. However, the site does not have a FAQ section, which can make it hard for prospective clients to find answers to their questions. It also does not list a pricing structure for its services, which is something that other legal directory sites offer.
Many lawyers use FindLaw to advertise their law firm websites and create directories on the site. These marketing services can be useful in getting leads, but they can be costly.
To sign up for a profile on FindLaw, attorneys must fill out a form with basic information about themselves and their practice areas. After submitting the form, they will receive an email to verify their account. Then, they must complete their profile to ensure that it includes all the necessary information.
Attorneys can also leave reviews for their firms and individual attorneys. These reviews can be published in the directory if they are deemed helpful or relevant to other clients. They can also be removed if they contain offensive language, are promoting another lawyer or business, or have personally identifying information.
When a client leaves a review, they are prompted to rate the attorney or firm between one and five stars, provide their opinion using at least 50 characters, and include their contact information. The client will then receive an email from FindLaw to verify their review.
It is important for attorneys to ensure that their profiles and reviews are up-to-date, as inaccurate information can negatively impact a law firm’s reputation. Keeping a current profile and having positive reviews can help potential clients find an attorney quickly.
In addition, FindLaw will publish profiles and reviews that are verified by the attorney or firm, rather than unverified accounts. Typically, it takes a day or two for the verification process to complete, but this can vary depending on the time of year and the number of profiles being verified.
Ask for Referrals
Asking for referrals is one of the most effective marketing strategies that lawyers can use. The idea is that a current client will refer another person or company to you, and this leads to a steady supply of new clients who you can grow your practice with.
The most important thing to remember when asking for referrals is to be respectful of your client’s time and their efforts. This means implementing an easy-to-use referral form in your email, mobile app or on your website that allows clients to simply add their name and share the link. Alternatively, you could also send your client a handwritten note or holiday card thanking them for their referral and letting them know you appreciate the opportunity to earn and keep their business.
Once you’ve established the process of asking for referrals, make sure you follow through. This doesn’t just mean sending letters or emailing clients, it means tracking the number of referrals you receive or send out and figuring out which tactics work best for your law firm.
If you’re not getting the results you want, it might be time to adjust your strategy. Try different types of questions to see which ones are more effective for your business, or rethink the way you ask.
Consider whether or not you should even include the word “referral” in your request to make it clear that you’re only asking for referrals from people who can benefit from your service. This way, you won’t get any unsolicited emails from people who aren’t in a position to refer anyone.
When you do send your letter, be sure to include your updated resume, a copy of your job listing and other materials that may help you build a strong case for your request. This will make the letter more memorable, and it will give you a better chance of receiving a response.
In addition, be sure to thank your clients for their referrals – this will go a long way in ensuring that they’ll continue to refer you to other people. This can be done in a variety of ways, from sending a handwritten note to a Christmas card, to offering an incentive program that will reward your most satisfied customers with a gift card or a discount on their next invoice.
Search Online
If you are in need of lawyer advice, there are a number of online services that can help. These services will provide you with a wide range of legal information and also connect you with a qualified lawyer. You can search for lawyers by state and even by specific legal issues. These sites can also help you find a local attorney, as well as one who offers a free consultation.
Avvo, a website that specializes in lawyer ratings and reviews, also has a Q&A board where you can ask questions for free. The site claims that someone gets a free legal answer every five seconds, and it’s often the first place people turn when they are in need of legal advice.
It’s worth noting, however, that the answers provided on Avvo are not legal advice and don’t constitute an attorney-client relationship. In addition, if you do decide to hire a lawyer based on their answers, they may charge a fee.
The best way to search for legal information is to use a specific keyword or phrase that you know to be relevant. This will enable you to narrow your results quickly. A common mistake is to try to include too many keywords or phrases in the search, and this will result in a massive number of unrelated results being returned.
You can also limit the type of website that you use by using a site filter. A site filter is a specific word or phrase that you can add to your search terms that will narrow the results to only the sites that contain this word or phrase. This can save you a lot of time, and it is a simple way to make your search more effective.
Quora is another great resource for legal information, but it is important to read the rules before posting your question so you don’t get banned. It is similar to Yahoo answers, where experts network and share their expertise by answering questions posted by others.
Finally, there is Nolo’s series of books on a wide range of legal topics, which can be purchased a la carte or as a whole set. Each book has hundreds of pages of expert advice written in easy-to-understand writing. They are updated regularly to reflect changes in law and best practices.
Read Reviews
One of the best ways to get legal advice is to ask for a referral. Another way is to read reviews about attorneys and law firms on FindLaw. They have a robust directory that makes it easy to locate the right attorney for your case. The site also offers a wealth of resources like legal news and blog posts.
While you’re at it, make sure to read some of the thousands of reviews and articles about law firms that have been published on the site. Many are written by actual clients, so you’ll get a real feel for what makes a great lawyer in your area. The most important aspect of all of this is to find out what you want and don’t want, and then decide on a plan that fits your budget. This includes finding the best possible attorney and negotiating the most fair and competitive contract.
The most impressive and awe-inspiring thing about the site is that it’s actually free to use, which is a big deal for small firms with limited budgets. They also have a free webinar program that can be helpful to those that need it the most, and their customer service is top-notch.