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How Do I Find a
Lawyer?
No lawyer is an expert in every field of law.
Fortunately, there are many ways to find a lawyer who is an expert in
handling your particular legal problem.
Word of Mouth: Friends and relatives can be a
good source of information about lawyers. But someone who was happy with
his divorce lawyer might not be a good source of information to help you
find a lawyer for a personal injury case.
Specialists: Sometimes you might need a lawyer
who specializes in the type of case you have. Other times, you might
need a "general practitioner" who handles many different legal problems.
A lawyer is not allowed to accept a case if the lawyer does not have
enough experience to handle it. If you go to a lawyer who does not
handle the type of case you have, that lawyer may be able to help you
find someone else.
Tennessee does not allow lawyers to call themselves
"specialists" except in a few areas of the law:
• A "patent lawyer" is someone who is
admitted to practice law before the United States Patent and
Trademark Office.
• Lawyers may also be certified by the
Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and
Specialization in 14 fields:
Civil Trial
Legal Malpractice
Criminal Trial
Medical Malpractice
Consumer Bankruptcy
Elder Law
Business Bankruptcy
Estate Planning
Creditors' Rights
Family Law
Accounting Malpractice
Juvenile Law
DUI Defense
Social Security Disability
You can get information about
lawyers who are certified as "specialists" at the Commission’s website:
www.cletn.com. Remember that many lawyers are experts in one or more of
these areas even though they are not certified as "specialists."
Lawyer Referral Services: A good way to find a lawyer is through
a Lawyer Referral & Information Service. The Knoxville Bar Association,
like many bar associations across the country, operates such a service.
Here is how it works. First, call the
Knoxville Bar Association Lawyer Referral &
Information Service at 522-7501. The
staff will arrange a
FREE 30-minute consultation for you
with an attorney who practices in the area of law in which you need
assistance. The date and time of the appointment will be scheduled when
you call the Service. Our second option offers a
FREE
phone consultation with an attorney.
Scheduling an appointment with a lawyer through the Lawyer Referral &
Information Service will help you determine whether you need to hire a
lawyer, the approximate cost for the services of the lawyer, and an
estimate of approximately how long it will take to resolve your legal
matter.
Advertisements: You will find advertisements for
lawyers in the telephone book, in newspapers, and on television.
Tennessee has strict rules about how lawyers may advertise to make sure
ads are not misleading. An advertisement can be useful to tell you if a
lawyer handles a particular type of case or if the lawyer offers a "free
first visit." However, not all lawyers choose to advertise, and the ad
should not be the only thing that helps you choose a lawyer.
Making an Appointment. Before you make an
appointment to talk to a lawyer, you should ask three questions:
• "Do you handle ____________cases?" Be sure
the lawyer takes your type of case.
• "Do you charge for the first visit?" If you
get a referral through the Knoxville Bar Association Lawyer Referral &
Information Service, you will not pay for the consultation. In all other
situations, ask the lawyer if there is a charge for the first
consultation and, if so, how much it is.
• "Do you represent _____________?" Be sure
that the lawyer does not represent the person on the other side of your
case. Even if another lawyer represents the other person now, the lawyer
you call may have represented that person in the past.
Be Prepared: When you meet with the lawyer for
the first time, write down the questions you want to ask, and bring all
of the papers related to your case.
Free Lawyers: You may be able to get a lawyer
without charge. If you think you are eligible, go to "How Can I Get a
Free Lawyer?"
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