Yes, there are free pro bono lawyers available to help with legal cases for individuals who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. You can contact your local legal aid organization or bar association to inquire about pro bono legal services in your area.
"Pro Bono" is short for "pro bono publico", which means "for the public good". It is usually used to describe a lawyer who takes a case for free - so the typical lawyer's fee on a pro bono case is $0. Some lawyers will take a case at a reduced rate (technically, that's not "pro bono") but lawyers fees vary a lot depending on location and type of case, so there is no "typical" lawyer's fee in Tennessee. Most lawyers who do not charge a fee are actually employed by a Legal Aid or Legal Services office (for civil cases), or are assigned counsel under the Indigent Defense Program or work for a Public Defender office (for criminal and some family cases). Links to these offices are at the related link below.
pro bono means free
Pro bono lawyers win cases at a similar rate to paid lawyers. Success in a case depends on various factors such as the strength of the evidence, legal arguments, and the skills of the lawyer, rather than whether they are working pro bono or not.
Find a local pro bono project for the area where your case will be heard.
In Virginia, contact your local legal aid office for help presenting your case. Lawyers at the office provide assists on pro bono.
The abbreviation for the term "lawyers" is "attys." It is commonly used in legal documents to refer to attorneys or lawyers involved in a case or legal matter.
A good website is abanet.com. The offer a large directory of pro bono programs and lawyers all across the united states. Attorneys who do "pro bono" work do so for charities, non-profits and causes that ultimately benefit the greater good. An employment dispute can settled in Small Claims court without legal representation, taken through the EEOC for matters of discrimination/harassment, or taken on contingency if the attorney believes the case has merit and is likely to result in a substantial settlement. Lawyers do not work for free.
Yes, lawyers have the right to choose not to defend someone in a legal case if they have a valid reason, such as a conflict of interest or ethical concerns.
In a criminal case, through the public defender or appointed by the court. In a civil case, you can try legal aid or a local pro bono project, but there is no guarantee.
Some private lawyers may take an occasional pro bono case if it interests them, but it's very rare - especially for custody cases - and they don't advertise. If your income is low enough to qualify, you may be able to get free legal help from Legal Aid. A directory of their local offices is the first related link below. Not every local office will handle a custody case, depending on their case load; you'll have to call and ask. I found this at the second related link, which has links to additional Virginia legal services by region and county.
Yes, opposing lawyers often communicate with each other during a legal case to discuss issues, negotiate settlements, exchange information, and coordinate court proceedings.
Yes, there are many pro bono lawyers in Illinois. "Pro bono" generally describes any lawyer who works for free. Those who provide civil legal services are found in Legal Aid, Legal Services, or similar organizations; you have to contact them to find out what types of cases they handle and how low your income has to be to qualify for their services. Those who provide criminal defense services are Public Defenders; they are appointed by the court if you can't afford to hire a lawyer. The source below has links to all Illinois legal aid, legal services, and Public Defender offices. Click the links to get their contact information and more details about their services and procedures.