How to Find a Lawyer

General information, not a personal recommendation

This guide describes common ways people locate and vet a lawyer in the United States. It is general educational information, not legal advice, and it does not recommend any specific attorney, firm, or service.

BrellaFind is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. Attorney licensing, bar referral programs, and legal aid eligibility rules vary by state, so confirm details with the resources in your own state before relying on them.

State and local bar association referral services

Most state bar associations, and many county or city bar associations, run a lawyer referral service. These programs typically connect you with an attorney who practices in the relevant area of law, often for a modest initial consultation fee that is set by the referral program rather than by the individual lawyer.

Referral services generally require participating attorneys to carry malpractice insurance and be in good standing, which offers a baseline level of vetting beyond a general internet search. You can typically find your state bar's referral service by searching for your state's bar association website.

Legal aid organizations and the Legal Services Corporation

If your household income is limited, you may qualify for free civil legal help through a legal aid organization. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a federally funded nonprofit that supports independent legal aid programs across the country, and its website includes a directory to help you locate the legal aid office serving your area.

Legal aid organizations typically focus on civil matters that affect basic needs — housing, family law, public benefits, consumer debt, and domestic violence protective orders, among others — rather than criminal defense or business matters. Eligibility is usually based on income guidelines that vary by state and household size.

Legal aid capacity is limited in most areas, and not every organization can take every case. Applying early, and being ready to explain your situation and deadlines, improves the chance of getting help in time.

Law school clinics

Many law schools operate legal clinics where supervised law students provide free or low-cost help on specific types of cases, such as landlord-tenant disputes, immigration matters, small business questions, or veterans' benefits. A licensed supervising attorney oversees the work.

Clinic availability, subject-matter focus, and intake timing vary significantly by school and by semester, so it's worth contacting a nearby law school's clinical programs office directly to ask what they currently handle and whether they're accepting new matters.

Other common ways to find a lawyer

• Personal referrals from friends, family, or another professional (such as an accountant) who has worked with a lawyer in the relevant area.
• Court self-help centers, which sometimes maintain lists of local attorneys or limited-scope representation options for specific case types.
• Specialty and public-interest organizations relevant to your issue (for example, disability rights or tenant rights groups), which often maintain attorney referral lists.
• Online attorney directories and marketplaces — useful for casting a wide net, but they typically do not vet attorneys as thoroughly as a bar referral service, so independent verification matters more.

How to verify a lawyer is licensed and in good standing

Before hiring any lawyer, confirm that they are currently licensed to practice in your state and that there is no unresolved disciplinary history. Every state has an official attorney regulatory body — usually the state bar or a state supreme court disciplinary office — that maintains a free, public attorney lookup tool.

These lookup tools typically show the lawyer's license status (active, inactive, suspended, or disbarred), the year they were admitted to practice, the areas they are authorized to practice in, and any public disciplinary record. Search for your state's name plus "attorney license lookup" or "bar disciplinary search," or start from your state bar association's website.

1. Identify the state where the lawyer is licensed (this should be disclosed by the lawyer or firm).
2. Go to that state's bar association or attorney regulatory authority website.
3. Use the public attorney search tool to confirm the license is active and in good standing.
4. Review any public disciplinary history listed, and ask the lawyer directly about anything that concerns you.
5. If the lawyer will be handling a matter outside their licensed state, ask how they are authorized to do so (for example, through pro hac vice admission).

What to check before you commit

Licensure is the baseline, not the whole picture. Before hiring a lawyer, it also helps to understand their experience with cases like yours, how they bill, who on their team will actually work on your matter, and how they communicate. A more detailed list of consultation questions is covered in a separate guide.