It is important to realize that changes may occur in this area of law. This information is not intended to be legal advice regarding your particular problem, and it is not intended to replace the work of an attorney.
Need help finding a lawyer who handles your type of legal issue? The Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service provides information on the more than 1,300 lawyers statewide that have signed-up with the bar’s Lawyer Referral Service. The service can help you select the right lawyer based on practice area, location and special services, including foreign language ability and license to practice law in other states. Participating lawyers agree to provide an initial in-office consultation for no more than $35.
The Lawyer Referral Service ensures that all participating lawyers are in good standing with the bar and carry professional liability coverage. The service does not rate or rank the lawyers, however, and does not have information on what a lawyer’s fees may be beyond the initial consultation.
Unfortunately, the Lawyer Referral and Information Service is unable to maintain a list of pro bono or free lawyers. However, the service does offer the Modest Means Program, which provides legal help at a reduced rate. Help is offered to qualified applicants based on income and assets, the type of case, and availability of participating lawyers in your county.
If you qualify for the Modest
Means Program, your initial in-office
visit will cost no more than $35. And, depending upon your income and assets, the Modest Means lawyer will
not charge more than $60, $80 or $100 per hour for any service provided after the
first visit. To apply for the program, you must complete a Modest
Means Application and fax or mail it to the Lawyer
Referral and Information Service. The service will then contact you to let you know
whether you qualify.
You can call the Lawyer Referral Service from 8 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 5 p.m.
on weekdays at (503) 684-3763 in Portland or toll-free elsewhere in
Oregon at (800) 452-7636. You can also request a referral or download
a Modest Means Application online at the Oregon State Bar website.
If you are not sure whether or not you need to speak with a lawyer,
you may still want to call the Lawyer Referral and Information Service. Staff
can help you focus on the type of help you may need, or give you more
information about the Oregon State Bar, government resources, or community
service programs that may be able to help you.
Legal Editor:
George Wolff, Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Department Manager, June 2008.
Revised Dec. 2009