When Do I Need A Lawyer?
by: Developed from materials provided by the Wyoming State Bar Association
You Know You Need a Lawyer When . . . .
Q: When do I need to see a lawyer?
A: If you have any kind of legal problem, it is good to talk to a lawyer. It is a very good idea to talk to a lawyer about confusing legal problems or decisions.
As a rule of thumb you should talk to a lawyer.....
before you sign any paper to buy or sell land
before you sign any paper buy or sell a home, mobile home or trailer
before going to Court, or having a hearing or meeting about a legal matter
You should also talk to a lawyer when:
when you want to write a will
when you facing a divorce, adoption or child support or custody issue
if you get hurt
if you think you might be charged with a crime or if you are placed under arrest.
Q: How do I pick a lawyer?
A: You should choose a lawyer the same way you would pick someone to help you with something major.
You will need to trust your lawyer.
You will also need to believe that your lawyer can do a good job for you. Does the lawyer think they can get you what you want? If they can't, what do they think they can do?
Before you hire a lawyer, it is a good idea to ask the lawyer if they have handled your kind of case before. Ask how long the legal work will take and how much it will cost.
If you do not want the lawyer to take your case, you can also just ask questions so that you can understand how to fix the problem yourself. Many lawyers will meet with you for free the first time. Ask ahead of time whether you will be charged for the first meeting and how much.
If, for any reason, you do not want to work with a lawyer you contact, don't! Try someone else.
Q:How do I find a lawyer?
A: To find a lawyer, you can ..........
ask family and friends about lawyers they know. It is best if you get names from people who have had lawyer work for them
Wyoming State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at 1-(307)632-9061. They can give you the names and numbers of lawyers who may be able to help you.
You can look in the yellow pages or at ads. These can be helpful, but will not tell you whether the lawyer will be able to do what you need. Ask lots of questions of the lawyer to make sure that hiring them is the right choice.
No lawyer can promise that your case will go a certain way. No legal case is ever a "sure thing". No lawyer can "win" every case. Often you get what you pay for and cheap is not always good. Know that your lawyer must work within the law. For this reason, they may not be able to get you exactly what you want.
Everybody's problems are unique. This website cannot tell you how your case will be decided.
This website can be used to help you learn the law. It can help you understand your rights. It can assist you in getting the help you need.
If you need more help than this website can give on your specific problem, you should contact a lawyer. If you are low-income and wish to apply for an attorney through Wyoming Legal Services, please click here.
Whether you are low-income or not, if you have questions about your case or are uncertain in any way, it is a good idea to talk to a lawyer before taking legal action.
Hiring a Lawyer.
Hiring a lawyer is a big deal. Be sure to shop around.
Before hiring a lawyer, you should ask a lot of questions.
Hire a lawyer you feel you can trust.
This website gives information on what to look for in a lawyer. This web site is not advertising for any particular lawyer.
E-mail.
Using this website or sending an e-mail to Wyoming LawHelp does not mean that Wyoming LawHelp is your lawyer.
It is important to understand that if you email WLWP and put facts about your case in the email that WLWP will keep your information confidential. It is also important to understand that what you put in your email may not be confidential if you go to litigation on your legal problem. This means that the information you provide could be used against you in court. This is not a good thing! Think twice about what you write in an email! If you have any concerns at all, call our offices or talk to a lawyer!
For all these reasons, you may wish to use the telephone or talk in person when looking for a lawyer.
Deadlines
If you are handling your own case or do not yet have a lawyer, it is very important that you not miss deadlines! You may lose your legal rights if you do not take action right away.
This means getting a lawyer right away if that is what you want.
If you don't have a lawyer call the clerk of court to find out what deadlines apply to you.
Getting It Right
Wyoming LawHelp is offered as public service. We try to make the information correct as of the date of the materials.
Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct, but we are doing our best to give you the best information we can.
Links
Sometimes we link to legal information given by other websites.
We cannot say with absolute certainty that these other links have gotten in right.
We do not sponsor these other links or use any trade name, trademark, logo, legal or official seal used at these links.
The Wyoming LawHelp is offered as a public service by Wyoming Legal
Services.
Wyoming Legal Services is a statewide program that works to improve
access to justice for Wyoming citizens. Wyoming Legal Services
provides free legal services, including legal analysis, representation,
information and education to low-income persons. We also
provide free advice & referral services to Wyoming senior citizens.
The work of Wyoming Legal Services relies on grantors and private
donations. All donations are tax deductible.
The Wyoming LawHelp Stakeholder Advisory Committee includes (in
alphabetical order): Balwin & Crocker, PC, Centros de Recursos Latinos
(Latino Resource Center), The Legal Services Clinic (University of
Wyoming), The Self-Help Center, The Students` Attorney Office
(University of Wyoming), The Wyoming Guardianship Corporation, Wyoming
Legal Services, The Wyoming State Bar Foundation and The Wyoming Supreme
Court
