Find a lawyer
There will be instances during your lifetime when you may require legal help. When these times arise, you will need to find a lawyer. In all honesty, it is wise to have a good attorney on hand at all times, not just in periods of strife. With research and education, your pursuit for a lawyer can be stress-free.
First, what type of lawyer do you need? There are general law practicing attorneys as well as lawyers who concentrate on a specific area of the law such as a criminal defense attorney or an estate attorney, etc. A good start in your search to find a lawyer is the county law library or the main branch of the public library. The Martindale-Hubble Law Directory is a 26-volume edition that lists and rates attorneys. This directory has basic practice profiles, professional biographies of lawyers and firms, and lawyer and law firm ratings based on colleague reviews. The Martindale-Hubble Directory is now available online (www.martindale.com) as well as CD-ROM. The online database features over a million lawyers in 160 countries with hyperlinks to law firm websites. This directory is an excellent way to begin your hunt for a lawyer.
If you are too busy to find a lawyer yourself, or just don't know where to start, use a lawyer referral service. For a small cost, these agencies will locate an personal injury lawyer, a divorce lawyer, or any one kind of lawyer that fits your criteria. Scan the Yellow Pages of your local telephone book for a listing of certified referral services located in your area. A local bar association or law school clinic also may be able to direct you to a legal agencies program.
What if you desperately need to find a lawyer, but are in financial despair? If you are accused of committing a crime, and cannot afford a lawyer, you may be entitled to free assistance from the public defender's office. If no public defender is available in your county, the judge residing over your case will designate a private attorney to handle your case free of charge.
Not everyone needs a corporate lawyer, but in some cases you can't do without a business lawyer when it comes to your needs. Without an experienced commercial lawyer you could find yourself in a conundrum that only a professional lawyer could help you with, such as a banking lawyer or some other specialty.
Criminal Lawyers
When you need the help of trustworthy, successful lawyers there's only one place you should look: the Cochran Firm.