Finding Legal Help

  • Avoiding Litigation
  • Attorneys
  • Limited Legal Help
  • Representing Yourself
    		•
  • Additional Resources
  • Legal Clinics
  • Agencies and Organizations
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    Avoiding Litigation

    Going to court - litigation - can be expensive and time-consuming. Before heading to court to resolve a dispute, think about trying something else.

    Work it Out
    Try talking to the person or business you are having the dispute with to see if you can work things out.

    Alternative Dispute Resolution
    Try alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Mediation and arbitration, for example, both involve neutral, third party representatives who guide the resolution process or reach a settlement. Specific ADR programs are available for many types of cases, including child welfare, co-parenting, divorce, probate, victim-offender and appeals. For more information, see the court's Mediation page.

    To find an arbitrator or mediator, use the court's Roster of Mediators and Arbitrators, which lets you search by field of specialty and provides contact information.

    Free mediation services are available for landlord-tenant cases in Salt Lake County. Free mediation for small claims court disputes are available in Park City, Provo, and Salt Lake County.

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    Attorneys

    Attorneys provide different kinds of legal help, including:

    • Advocating for clients involved in civil lawsuits
    • Defending clients accused of committing crimes
    • Advising clients about the law

    They may perform these roles by explaining the law, preparing letters, forms and legal documents, or representing clients in court.

    Finding an Attorney
    LegalMatch is a free service provided by the Utah State Bar to help people find an attorney. Without revealing your identity, you can confidentially post information about your legal issue, and interested attorneys will respond. You can compare attorneys by experience, ratings, offers, and fees, before choosing from a network of pre-screened attorneys.

    You can also consult telephone yellow pages, or ask people you know to recommend a good attorney. Court staff cannot provide attorney recommendations.

    Complaints About Attorneys
    The Utah State Bar's Consumer Assistance Program is designed to help resolve conflicts between clients and their attorneys.

    The Bar also offers a Fee Arbitration Service to work out fee disputes between clients and their attorneys.

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    Limited Legal Help

    Many people can't afford to hire an attorney. Limited legal help, also known as "limited scope legal representation" or "unbundled services" is an alternative way to get legal help. Under this kind of arrangement, an attorney and client agree that the attorney will provide specific services for a predetermined fee.

    For example, the attorney and client could agree that the attorney:

    • will only advise the client about the strength of the case, or
    • help draft a document, or
    • review a document the client has drafted, or
    • coach the client for a negotiation, or
    • help with the discovery process, or
    • coach the client for a hearing, or
    • appear in court on behalf of the client for one hearing only, or
    • any combination of these kinds of services

    Hiring an attorney to handle part of your case can be an affordable alternative to hiring one to take care of your entire case (also called "full representation"), and is preferable to representing yourself in court - a process that takes time and patience and can be confusing. People who act as their own attorneys are expected to know and follow the same rules that attorneys do.

    Not all cases are suited for limited legal help, and the idea of limited legal help is just beginning to be adopted by attorneys in Utah. Find the names of a couple of attorneys using the resources described in the Finding an Attorney section, and talk about the possibility of hiring them to provide you with limited legal help.

    Lists of attorneys who offer limited legal help:

    • 2nd District (Davis County - compiled by Davis County Bar Association)
    • 4th District (Utah County - compiled by Central Utah Bar Association)
    • 5th District (Cedar City and St. George - compiled by Southern Utah bar association)

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    Additional Resources

    Law Libraries
    Law libraries have print and online resources including statutes, regulations, court rules, and court decisions, as well as legal encyclopedias, form books, and books about specific areas of law. Most law books are written for legal professionals, but some books are written for non-lawyers. Law library staff can't give you legal advice, but they can show you how to use their resources. Consumer Protection Services
    • The Utah Division of Consumer Protection responds to consumer complaints, unfair and deceptive business practices, and provides consumer education. Call 800-721-7233 (toll free in Utah) or 801-530-6601 for more information.
    • The Better Business Bureau encourages fair business practices and allows consumers to file complaints. Call 892-6009 for more information.
    • Identity Theft Reporting System (IRIS) Provides information about identity theft, how to prevent it, what to do if you become a victim, and news about scams. The website also provides a way to report identity theft.
    Landlord-Tenant Information
    • The Apartment Association of Utah has a handbook about laws concerning apartment owners, as well as forms for landlord-tenant related cases. Call 801-487-5619 for more information.
    • The court's Landlord-Tenant page has information about evictions and the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants.
    • Utah Legal Services' Utah Renter's Handbook has information for landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities.
    Military Personnel Other Issues
    • If you have think you may be the victim of securities fraud, you can contact the Division of Securities to file a complaint. Call 801-530-6600 for more information.
    • If you have a problem with trade or professional person, such as an electrician or doctor, you can contact the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing to file a complaint. Call 801-530-6630 for more information.
    • If you have a problem with your utility company, such as billing mistakes or termination of service, you can contact the Division of Public Utilities to file a complaint. Call 800-874-0904 or 801-530-6652 for more information.

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    Page Last Modified: 3/12/2008