How do you find a lawyer who will take a wrongful death case pro bono in california?

Answer 1

Lawyers who take cases pro bono usually do so because they believe in the case and will handle it for free because it contributes to the "public good" (pro bono is short for the Latin pro bono publico - "for the public good"). These are usually cases for which the lawyer expects no payment. A wrongful death case, on the other hand, is the type of case for which lawyers do expect payment, because a verdict for the plaintiff usually means the defendant must pay money damages, and the lawyer will take a percentage of that.

Most lawyers who handle wrongful death cases will do so without charging a fee up front - so if what you mean by "pro bono" is a lawyer who will take your case without asking for a retainer, then any wrongful death lawyer fits the bill (of course the lawyer has to believe the case is winnable). Then if you win, they lawyer takes a cut of the damage award; if you lose, you probably won't owe the lawyer a fee, although you may have to pay some expenses.

The easiest way to find a lawyer is through a lawyer-referral service, and there are many in California. Click the related source below, and then click one of the "lawyer referral" links, either in the Statewide category at the top of the list, or one in your county as you scroll down the list.