Legal advice is expensive. This is not news for anyone. With average hourly rates hovering around $284 per hour, this type of service is definitely beyond reach for a lot of people. Unfortunately, the people who usually need an attorney most are the ones who can least afford to pay these high rates. Everything from being injured in an accident, being accused of a crime or going through a divorce can be a financial disaster for people who simply can't afford a lawyer. In most of these scenarios, the stakes are so high that you must have an attorney to help you no matter what. But what can you do if you cannot afford one? Let's take a look:

Getting court-appointed attorneys

In some cases, a lawyer will be provided to you, free of charge. You will get a court-appointed Affordable Family Law Attorney in South Florida if the stakes are high – The Supreme Court has ruled that it is constitutional that you have a lawyer to defend you. Usually, court-appointed lawyers work in criminal cases. The right to an attorney was first mentioned in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and was written into law in 1963. In that particular case, a poor defendant was not able to defend himself and get a lawyer, thus being completely outmatched by the State Attorney. The Supreme Court, on appeal, decided that having a lawyer is a fundamental right, and is essential to a fair trial.

A person who is arrested will receive the services of a Public Defender, a lawyer who is paid by the state to represent poor defendants. He or she will be appointed during the first hearing, usually within 24 hours of the arrest. Although these Affordable Divorce Attorney in South Florida are commonly seen as overworked, underpaid and less skilled or less concerned than private lawyers, they are an integral part of a modern, fair legal system. Usually, Public Defenders do their best in order to defend their clients and they often do a great job.

Child dependency cases

This is another area where many jurisdictions are providing free legal counsel. The gravity of the situation when a person may lose their children creates this need, especially if the person involved cannot afford a private family lawyer. Each jurisdiction will have a different method of appointing this type of lawyer and you should check with your local courthouse. The appointment is usually done by a judge during the first hearing or as soon as possible, to avoid future legal issues concerning the children. Some states automatically appoint these Affordable Divorce Attorney in South Florida to speed up the process even more. The attorneys appointed can be state employees, working at a Public Defender's office or can be working privately. The lawyers working privately may offer their services as volunteering or pro bono, although some type of compensation can be available.

Pro bono representation

Some lawyers who work in the private sector offer their services as pro bono representation. This means that they are volunteering their services free of charge for certain legal cases. The Latin phrase “pro bono” essentially means “for free”, so the service is completely free for the defendant or client. Major cities and most counties have pro bono legal clinics or boards where clients can seek help. Filling forms, doing paperwork, citations, subpoenas and legal advice is usually offered in these legal clinics to many possible clients.

Court representation is offered for important cases. Check legal aid societies for more help getting court representation. Usually, most lawyers will work on pro bono cases if they meet certain requirements. For instance, your case must be reasonably likely to succeed, be highly meritorious or you may meet certain income criteria. If the case is won, the legal society may ask for a partial refund from the other party, but you won't be charged any fees. Also, these funds will not be available to you, as you did not pay for the services. The funds will be used to represent and prepare the next pro bono case.

Some Affordable Family Law Attorney in South Florida may take pro bono cases that are paid on contingency. You will not pay the lawyer, but he or she will take a percentage of the final settlement. A lot of civil cases are tried in this manner. This is an ideal way of getting free legal advice, especially if you cannot afford them.

In special cases, a lawyer or a law firm will simply offer to volunteer to represent you. This is an act of pure charity, as he or she will likely never get paid for the legal services provided. These cases are quite common because most lawyers feel the need to give back something to the community, especially if their private practice is successful. This is the best situation for a client who cannot afford legal services because the case will likely be prepared by a very successful Affordable Family Law Attorney in South Florida. For instance, the largest law firms in the country often have a minimum amount of pro bono cases per year and take great pride in representing these clients.

Finding Affordable Divorce Attorney in South Florida can be difficult, but luckily there are resources you can check. For instance, there are multiple federally and state-funded legal programs that subsidize legal services. Pro bono divorce lawyers can also be found at your state or local bar association. For example, the ABA (The American Bar Association) recommends all lawyers in the country to donate a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono work every year. Of course, some do more and others do less, but you should find someone that fits your needs. The specific information on who and when does pro bono work is usually available at legal clinics. Please keep in mind that these services are offered to those who need them, based on their financial situation or other special circumstances.