How to Find Local Representation

Individuals from from across the US find us online on a daily basis to meet their needs for legal representation in PA, for various reasons:

• At times the new client had been driving through a state and was involved in a car accident.
• Or, the caller had lived somewhere briefly (for school or otherwise), only to get sued in that state, by a debt collector, but the Defendant has since relocated.  

In this way, people find us to serve as local counsel for out-of-state parties needing representation in Pennsylvania.  But What if Your Case is Located Outside of Our Geographic Area?

 

You Live Too Far From the Court Handling Your Case – Now What? 

Let’s say the case is in Texas, but you live in Maine.  How do you find a lawyer in Texas?  On this page, we discuss various options to find local legal help in any geographic area across the United States. We’ll address the pros and cons of searching for an attorney via:  (a) doing a Google Search (b) calling a State Bar Association, or (d) the local County Bar Association. 

So let’s get started!  

 

A Google Search Online

A quick Google search can help you find representation anywhere, and quickly.

How?

Just search:

• the name of the nearest city (such as “Miami” or “St. Louis” or “Los Vegas”) plus
• “lawyer” and
• list the subject matter area of law (“debt collection defense” or “car accident or “non-compete enforcement,” etc.).

What Are the Pros of Google? 

Locating the law firm’s profile on Google Maps will reveal verified Google reviews. This is a great resource. Most of our clients find us through Google searches.   

Cons:  A search by city name only works if there’s a major city near the place you need a lawyer. For example, a Pittsburgh lawyer will often serve the surrounding areas of Beaver, Butler, or Washington County. That said, in parts of central Pennsylvania, the dispute might be too distant for a Pittsburgh lawyer, or even one from Philly or Harrisburg, PA.  What then? 

Plus, as odd as it sounds, some great lawyers have no online presence whatsoever. This happens with more senior attorneys or those in rural areas, where potential clients know of that lawyer already via word-of-mouth. Thus, Google would have no way of recommending any such lawyer! 

So then what? 

 

State Bar Association 

Many attorneys are members of their state’s Bar Association, which will provide a lawyer referral service. Pennsylvania’s Bar Association does exactly that, for example.  

That said, the number of lawyers available will be limited.

But why? First of all, in most states, state bar membership is optional, so not every attorney will belong to her local  State Bar Association. Pennsylvania’s “State Bar Association” is also pricey to join. Thus, many attorneys — including yours truly — steer clear of PA State Bar Association membership. This restricts the number of attorneys available to receive referrals of clients through the PA State Bar. 

But what does it mean to “pass the bar” and be a “member of the bar”?  Isn’t there a state “bar association” that regulates lawyers? 

No.

In fact, in Pennsylvania, it’s not the “PA Bar Association” that oversees lawyers.  Rather, in PA, the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board handles both the admission to practice law and oversight of lawyers in PA. Granted, the PA Disciplinary Board’s site will tell you if a given lawyer has faced professional discipline — a excellent thing to know when selecting an attorney (click here for “lawyer look up” in PA).  But the Disciplinary Board will not “recommend” or even “suggest” a lawyer in any given area. 

Fortunately, there’s a better option to find a local lawyer.

 

The Local County Bar Association 

Just as courts are organized according to each county, every county has a “local bar association.” This is true even in counties lacking a major city. For example, Beaver County, PA, click here. For Washington County, PA, click here. 

What Are the Pros? 

On the positive side, the number of participating lawyers is relatively high, because joining the local county bar association is fairly cheap. Secondly, a county bar association is “local,” compared to the State Bar Association, meaning, it’s closer to the community where the lawyers live, making it more in tune with each lawyer’s particular practice area.  

What are the Cons?   

Because it’s fairly effective, contacting the local county bar association is a popular option, making it congested with new calls at certain times. 

And there’s lots of reason for all the traffic. 

 In PA, all civil lawsuits (not just criminal cases) must (1) notify the Defendant of his right to counsel and (2) provide the phone number of the county bar association for a lawyer referral. As such, given the demand, you might not get a live person on the phone right away, when you call.  Plus, it can be several days before the county bar association “springs” to action to find you a lawyer. 

But if you decide to go the County Bar Association route for a lawyer referral, it’s easy.  Just do a Google search of the name of the County (for example, “Allegheny County”) the phrase bar association and “lawyer referral.” 

 

Let’s Get Started! 

Get in touch with a Pittsburgh attorney at our firm for any matter in Western PA.

412.342.0992

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