I think you’ll find that’s my method. Where’s my IP Lawyer?
NM. I’ve lawyered up and on advise of counsel have nothing to say.
Auto mechanics are like doctors or dentists. It’s best to have a “go to” guy, the one who gets the vast majority of your business. He knows you, knows you’re a good customer, and who YOU know is a solid service provider.
For most people, lawyers are like Auto Body Repair guys. If you have a “go to” guy who gets the vast majority of your business, you’re an idiot. Not for having a go to guy, but for getting yourself into so much trouble that you need to see him all the time.
I know loads of lawyers, not that I’ve needed one (I used a supersecret trick called “graduation from law school”).
Public Service Announcement, every state bar association I’m aware of has something called a “Lawyer Referral Service” in which you get matched up with an attorney in good standing whose specialty meets your needs, for a 1/2 hour consultation for a flat fee, usually $20-$40. Some larger cities also have their own bar associations and thus, their own program.
Google [your state or city bar] lawyer referral service.
I do know a bunch of lawyers, but I’m 44 and the only times I’ve needed a Spanish lawyer so far it’s been a notary public, when I needed some certified copies to apply for graduate school, a family lawyer for a consultation, a notary/property registrar again when I bought my flat: the two positions used to be separated but have now been joined, so the same guy certified that the contract reflected the agreement between all parties involved (notary) and updated property records (registrar). Most people in Spain go through life without needing to deal with any lawyers other than notary/registrars.
I did deal with immigration lawyers in the US but, well… given the quality of their services, I would have been better off without them. The first one was a mistake on my part; the second one was imposed by my employer.
Tickets: I had one. It was my fault. I paid and got the 50% discount for speedy payment. Cheaper and much less bothersome than fighting it.
Bankruptcy: vade retro Satanas, but anyway that doesn’t exist in Spain.
Medical what?
Wills: you don’t need a lawyer for that.
Divorce: ain’t even married, hon.
Power of Attorney: never needed one so far.
Finding lawyers and affording lawyers are two very different things. I’m easy to find. But after a decade of work for a non-profit, I’m in private practice now. No pay, no play.
Plenty of cheap ones too. Relatively cheap anyway.
I actually forgot that my father-in-law is an attorney. And if I ever need some advice on patent litigation, he’s the guy I’d call. In my defense, he’s been retired since before I met him.
Get a speeding ticket in NC and practically the next day there will be 50 solicitations in your mailbox from attorneys wanting you to hire them.
I do happen to have a friend who specializes in bankruptcy law, so when I got a speeding ticket I asked him for a referral for a traffic attorney. Turns out he does traffic sometimes as well, and was able to handle my case, but in most instances lawyers are very specialized - Family, Bankruptcy, Traffic, Criminal Defense, Closing (real estate), Corporate, Injury…the list goes on and on.
I’m not sure why you are thinking people don’t have access to attorneys though. Anyone with a phone book or internet access or a television can find one to hire if they need one. Hell, they even advertise on billboards, fer christ’s sake.
For the coke and hooker parties you would need to have a lawyer for, stupid!:smack:
Lawyers are expensive. I’ve never retained him, but the guy I would call if the occasion arose bills out at $350.00 an hour.
I’ve used a lawyer exactly three times, and I’m over 40.
Twice to buy a house/condo. (The condo paperwork was a mess. For $300, the lawyer did wonderful work cleaning it up.)
The third time was to write up a will. I wouldn’t have even used a lawyer, but the company I work for offers discounted lawyer fees, so I hired a lawyer rather than use online software.
I don’t “HAVE” a lawyer. I hire one with the correct specialization, when I need one.
And, what the heck kind of lawyers do you use, for speeding tickets, that don’t require payment? Why would they work for free for you, or are you getting a bulk discount?
I trade services with a friend who is an attorney. A few years ago my accountant asked about specific legal fees that might have been deductible. I started telling her about the services swap thing. She plugged her ears and said, “I’m not hearing this, lalalalala”.
She’s got a solid connection for some high-quality flowers…
Oh yes, one of her “side hustles.”
Not really. Especially for those living at or near poverty-level income. When it takes all you can make to keep food on the table, a roof over your head, and utilities connected, even a modest attorney fee for a relatively simple case can be hard to raise. I just finished a short child custody case where I was the Guardian ad Litem. I was awarded $1700 in attorney fees, divided equally between the parties, so that’s $850 each on top of what they paid their own lawyers. I bill at only $100/hour for that type of work right now, and I did not charge for all of the time I put into the case. The lawyers for the parties probably charged $2-3k each, meaning that the litigants spent about $3-4K each total…and this was a relatively simple case, with only two court appearances and a negotiated settlement.
My fees are lower than average in this area, because I’m just starting private practice, trying to build some business. I don’t want to gouge anyone, but I’ve got bills to pay, and you can’t eat pro bono.
I’m a woman. I don’t have to pay for the hotel room, the club cover charge, or my drinks. 
I’m 45 years old and I’ve never had the need to hire or even consult with a lawyer and I don’t think I lead a particularly charmed life. I’ve just never done anything or had anything done to me that I would need a lawyer.
Why would you need a lawyer for a speeding ticket?
And how does one even manage to speed in a stolen schoolbus?