{"id":369018,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:07","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/legal-help-and-resources\/litigation-help.html"},"modified":"2024-03-26T15:01:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T20:01:43","slug":"litigation-help","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-help-and-resources\/litigation-help.html","title":{"rendered":"A Guide for Finding Legal Help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

A Guide for Finding Legal Help<\/h1>\n\n
\n
\n By Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

People involved in litigation and court proceedings often face complex legal procedures and rules for the first time. Due to the complexity of litigation, many types of cases require an attorney’s legal expertise to prevail.<\/p>\n

Even if you hire an attorney to help you with your lawsuit, it may help to understand what to expect before you enter the courtroom. FindLaw’s Litigation Help section provides information to help you understand the litigation process and get help with your case.<\/p>\n

This section includes information about different types of legal representation available to litigants. It also answers some frequently asked questions about lawsuits and provides other information and resources related to litigation.<\/p>\n

Do I Need to Hire an Attorney?<\/h2>\n

No, litigants\u00a0do not have to retain an attorney for legal representation. In some circumstances, such as a corporation filing a claim in certain small claims courts, a litigant may have to hire an attorney. Otherwise, you can\u00a0represent yourself<\/a>\u00a0in a legal dispute.<\/p>\n

Depending on the complexity of your case, you may find that you can represent yourself instead of hiring an attorney. For example, most states have designed their\u00a0small claims courts<\/a>\u00a0to offer\u00a0litigants a\u00a0quick\u00a0and inexpensive way to\u00a0resolve their disputes without hiring an attorney.<\/p>\n

Although you can\u00a0represent yourself in a lawsuit, that doesn’t\u00a0mean you\u00a0should. An attorney can provide important legal advice throughout the litigation process. Their legal aid may make the difference between winning and losing your case. They can also lessen the stress you experience as you progress through the legal system and prepare for an upcoming trial.<\/p>\n

Litigants may also hire an attorney for limited-scope representation,\u00a0also called\u00a0unbundled\u00a0representation. This means the litigant hires the attorney for a specific part of the litigation process rather than the entire case. For example, the litigant could hire an attorney for help during the case’s trial or\u00a0discovery phase<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An alternative to hiring an attorney is hiring a\u00a0legal coach<\/a>. A\u00a0legal coach offers behind-the-scenes help to self-represented litigants. For example, the legal coach may offer advice about specific legal issues in a case when the self-represented litigant requests more information. The legal coach may also inform the litigant about how to present their case to the court.<\/p>\n

Reasons To Hire an Attorney<\/h2>\n

While not every legal matter requires that you hire an attorney, there are situations where the benefits of hiring a lawyer\u00a0outweigh the downsides. This section describes why parties to certain legal disputes may decide to hire an attorney.<\/p>\n

Civil Cases<\/h3>\n

Civil cases involve disputes between private parties. For example, suppose you paid a roofing company to replace your roof\u00a0but they refused to perform the work. In that situation, you could file a\u00a0civil case<\/a>\u00a0against the company to recover your money and for the cost of hiring a different roofer.<\/p>\n

If you plan to sue someone, hiring an attorney is\u00a0often a good idea. Attorneys have the education and experience to file court documents and handle other legal matters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A lawyer\u00a0knows how to conduct discovery\u00a0and when\u00a0expert witnesses<\/a>\u00a0will help your case. They know the specific\u00a0rules and procedures<\/a>\u00a0governing the legal process, such as filing deadlines,\u00a0rules of evidence<\/a>, and how to introduce evidence at trial.<\/p>\n

Suppose you received a\u00a0demand letter<\/a>\u00a0or notice of a lawsuit filed against you. Hiring an attorney can be a huge plus. Like the plaintiff (the person who files the lawsuit), the defendant may\u00a0benefit from hiring an attorney to defend them in a civil case. If a defendant does not\u00a0respond to the plaintiff’s complaint, there’s a good chance\u00a0they’ll\u00a0lose the case by default.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If someone has sued you, consider contacting a civil litigation attorney to help with your defense.<\/p>\n

Criminal Cases<\/h3>\n

Suppose law enforcement arrests you, and the government charges you with a crime. In most situations, a criminal defendant\u00a0benefits\u00a0from hiring a criminal defense attorney. If a criminal defendant cannot afford a lawyer, they may request that the court assign them one free of charge.<\/p>\n

Criminal cases require criminal defendants to know the law, the rules of evidence, and complex court procedures. A criminal defense attorney can help. They know how to challenge the prosecution’s evidence at trial. Their legal aid in disputing how the government obtained its evidence may make the difference between\u00a0an acquittal<\/a>\u00a0or a\u00a0conviction.<\/p>\n

Experienced criminal defense attorneys can also assist their clients before the trial, such as during\u00a0plea bargain<\/a>\u00a0negotiations. A plea bargain is an agreement between the criminal defendant and the prosecution. It involves the defendant pleading guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since\u00a0approximately 98% of federal criminal cases<\/a>\u00a0are resolved through plea bargains,\u00a0having skilled\u00a0legal advice is a good idea\u00a0before attempting to\u00a0admit\u00a0guilt for a lesser sentence.<\/p>\n

If the government has charged you with a crime, visit FindLaw’s section on\u00a0criminal law<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n

Other Legal Matters<\/h3>\n

Even if you don’t have active litigation, hiring an attorney when you engage in activities that may have legal implications can be\u00a0beneficial. If you and your neighbor decide to\u00a0draft a contract<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0start a business together<\/a>,\u00a0an attorney can provide legal advice to save you money should\u00a0legal issues arise.<\/p>\n

Legal Coaches Explained<\/h2>\n

In most cases, a lawyer represents their client for the entirety of the lawsuit. However, an attorney and client may instead decide to enter into a limited representation arrangement. As noted above, if the attorney only represents you in a limited aspect of the case, they are a limited representation attorney.<\/p>\n

Suppose the attorney and client agree that the attorney will not fully represent them. Instead, the attorney will provide legal consultation to the client when they request it. In this situation, the attorney is a legal coach.<\/p>\n

A legal\u00a0coach, also called a lawyer coach,\u00a0is a good option for those who can’t afford attorney fees associated with full representation but who\u00a0need limited legal services.<\/p>\n

Legal\u00a0coaches\u00a0provide the following types of services:<\/p>\n