WHAT IS A LAWYER? There are times when a lawyer can tell the court or other what you have told him: Also called an attorney, a lawyer is someone WHAT SHOULD I ASK BEFORE I who has completed law school, passed a bar HIRE A LAWYER? • A lawyer may reveal what you have told exam, and is licensed b the state to help him in order to prevent you from solve legal problems. There are many things Ask the lawyer about her experience committing a crime in the future. a lawyer can help you do, such as write will, handling similar cases, whether she has file a divorce, and represent you in court. enough time to handle your case, how you • A lawyer may reveal private will be charged for her work and her conversations if you are testifying in HOW DO I FIND A LAWYER? expenses, her initial thoughts about your court and he thinks that you are going to case, and whatever else you think is lie. Contact Legal Service Agencies. important. Often, lawyers will offer a free initial consultation. Honesty. Legal Service Agencies provide legal services for civil (non-criminal) law matters to low- WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM Your lawyer must always be honest with income persons either for free or a reduced MY LAWYER? you. fee. Call your local Bar Association for the legal service agency in your neighborhood, There are many things you should expect Diligence. or look in the yellow pages for a local from your lawyer. Among them are: agency. Your lawyer must be diligent in pursuing Regular Communications. your case or solving your problem. Hire a Private Lawyer. If you choose to use a private lawyer, you can: A lawyer has a duty to communicate with AFTER I GET A LAWYER, WHAT you regularly. He must keep you informed SHOULD I DO? • Ask people you know if they can of the status of your case. The lawyer must recommend a lawyer. also answer your questions and return your Be honest with your lawyer. If you lie to phone calls within a reasonable amount of your layer, he cannot do his job. When you • Look in the phone book, newspapers, time. meet with your lawyer, bring whatever and on television to get the names of paperwork you have related to the problem lawyers. You may tell your lawyer information in your lawyer is trying to solve. If you do not confidence. In most circumstances, he is understand what your lawyer has done, ask • Call your local county bar association to not allowed to tell anyone about your questions until you do. Be on time for get the names of lawyers. conversations, not even the judge. appointments and for court. Also, stay in touch. Give your lawyer your current phone Get a Public Defender. You can tell your lawyer if you have number and address. committed a crime in the past, and he is not If you are charged with a crime and you allowed to reveal this to the court or to HOW MUCH DOES A LAWYER need a lawyer, but you can’t afford one, the anyone else. But, you cannot bring your COST, AND HOW ARE FEES court will assign you a lawyer called a public lawyer evidence (items that are related to DETERMINED? defender. your case) and expect him to hide it. He will be required to turn it over to the court. It depends on the area you live in, the experience of the lawyer, and the type of legal work. You should call other lawyers and compare the fees to see if they are probably entitled to a reasonable fee. If your reasonable. lawyer acts unethically, report her to the What Should I Indiana Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Fees are determined in three (3) ways: commission: Expect From My Contingent. Indiana Supreme Court, Disciplinary Commission Lawyer A contingent fee is when the lawyer agrees Donald R. Lundberg, Executive Secretary that he will not be paid unless you win. If 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1165 you agree to a contingency fee, your lawyer Indianapolis, IN 46204 must explain the way the fee is figured and (317) 232-1807 put the agreement in writing. The agreement typically will state that if you win, Last Revised 11/2002 Special Code: 2010000 the lawyer will receive one-third to one-half of the verdict or settlement. ILS Office Contact Numbers Contingency fees are not allowed in family Prepared by: law cases, such as divorce or child support cases, or in representation of a defendant in Bloomington: Hammond: a criminal case. (812) 339-7668 Indiana Legal Services, Inc. 1-800-822-4774 (219) 853-2360 Hourly. Columbus: Indianapolis:
Lawyers often charge fees based upon the (812) 372-6918 (317) 631-9410 time they spend on your case, called an 1-866-644-6407 1-800-869-0212 hourly fee. Your lawyer should tell you his The production of this pamphlet is made possible by a grant hourly rate before you hire him or her. from the Indiana Bar Foundation and the assistance of Ice Evansville: Lafayette: Miller. Flat fee. (812) 426-1295 (765) 423-5327 1-800-852-3477 1-800-382-7581 This pamphlet is for information only. It is NOT legal advice. Lawyers can also charge a flat fee for simple For legal advice, contact a private attorney or a lawyer at the legal services that are performed routinely. Fort Wayne: New Albany: nearest Legal Services Office. Examples include simple divorces, name (260) 424-9155 (812) 945-4123 Laws and Policies change. Please look at the last revised date changes, bankruptcies, and uncontested 1-888-442-8600 1-800-892-2776 to make sure the information is still current. adoptions. Gary: South Bend: Information Available on the web WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM (219) 886-3161 (574) 234-8121 www.indianajustice.org UNHAPPY WITH MY LAWYER? 1-888-255-5104 1-800-288-8121
Just because you do not like the outcome of your case does not mean that your lawyer did a bad job. If you no longer like your lawyer, you can fire him. However, he is