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Finding Legal Help

You have options when you are facing a lawsuit. You can:

Lawyers

A lawyer (sometimes called an attorney) is a professionally trained and licensed person who helps people with legal problems. They advise people about their legal rights and options, prepare legal documents and represent people in courts and government agencies.

Do you qualify for a court appointed lawyer?

Most people do NOT get a court appointed lawyer. A court appointed lawyer represents you throughout your case for free. Answer the question to see if you qualify for one.

What is your case about?

You may qualify for a free lawyer if you meet the income requirements. Fill out a Declaration of Financial Status (Criminal) 1001CR and bring it to your court hearing

You may qualify for a free lawyer. Ask for one at your court hearing

You may qualify for a free lawyer if you meet the income requirements. Fill out a Declaration of Financial Status - 1200JU and bring it to your court hearing

You may qualify for a free lawyer if you meet the income requirements. Fill out a Declaration of Financial Status - 1200JU and bring it to your court hearing

You may qualify for a free lawyer if you meet the income requirements. Fill out a Declaration of Financial Status - 1200JU and bring it to your court hearing

You may qualify for a free lawyer if you meet the income requirements. Fill out a Declaration of Financial Status - 1200JU and bring it to your court hearing

ou may qualify for a free lawyer if you meet the income requirements. Fill out a Declaration of Financial Status (Criminal) - 1001CR and file it along with your Motion to Intervene

You may qualify for a free lawyer. If you were appointed a free lawyer in your case, you have the right to a lawyer to help you with your appeal.

If you don’t have a lawyer, the court will appoint one for you. Lawyers are volunteers. If the court can’t find a volunteer to represent you then you might have to proceed without a lawyer.

You do not qualify for a free lawyer. You still have options. You can:

Utah Code 78B-22-201 and Utah Code 78B-22-102(8)(a)

 

Free Legal Options

Some courts have "pro se" ("pro say") calendars where lawyers represent people for free at court hearings. But there are some limitations:

  • Help is limited to the hearing - after the hearing you will represent yourself
  • You must already have an open case and be scheduled for a hearing on the pro se calendar
  • Help is only for a few types of cases and at a few court locations

Look at the list of Utah Pro Se Calendars to see if your case qualifies. If you qualify, attend the hearing and follow any instructions to get help.

There are some agencies that will represent you for free even if you are not entitled to a court-appointed lawyer. All of these organizations have restrictions on how much help they can provide, and many limit their help based on your income. See the Agencies and Organizations web page for more information.

There are also some agencies that will offer free advice, but not representation. Some of them also have income limits. See the Legal Clinics web page for more information.

Finding a Lawyer

Lawyer Directories

Use one of these directories to find a lawyer, or ask friends and family to recommend a lawyer. Court staff cannot recommend lawyers.

Other Ways to Hire a Lawyer

Many people think they can't afford to hire a lawyer. Here are two options provided by the Utah State Bar that may help:

Modest Means Lawyer Referral Program

The Utah State Bar's Modest Means Lawyer Referral Program provides access to legal representation for people whose income is too high to qualify for free legal services, but too low to pay a lawyer's standard rate. In order to qualify you must fall below the income guidelines. See their webpage for program information.

Limited Legal Help

Limited legal help, also known as "limited scope legal representation" or "unbundled services" is an agreement between a lawyer and client that the lawyer will provide specific services for a predetermined fee. For example, the lawyer and client could agree that the lawyer:

  • 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

You can find lawyers willing to provide limited legal help by using the Utah State Bar's directory. Choose Search by Legal Category, then choose Payment Options and Unbundled Services.

You can also find information on free legal clinics where you can talk to a volunteer lawyer for free to receive limited advice.

The Utah State Bar's Overview of Public Service Programs, Information, and Resources web page has more information about working with lawyers.

Sliding Scale Fees and Other Options

Some lawyers charge a sliding scale fee based on your income. This means how much you pay depends on how much you earn. Some lawyers will also provide a free consultation. Others will charge a flat fee for services. You can search for lawyers by payment options using the Utah State Bar's directory. Choose Search by Legal Category, then choose Payment Options and search options you want.

Complaints About Lawyers

The Utah State Bar's Consumer Assistance Program is designed to help resolve conflicts between clients and their lawyers or paralegals. This program also allows you to file a complaint against a legal professional besides your own.

The Bar also offers a Fee Dispute Resolution Program to work out fee disputes between clients and their lawyers or licensed paralegal practitioner.

If you want to file a formal complaint against a lawyer or licensed paralegal professional you can contact the Office of Professional Conduct.

Unauthorized Practice of Law

Only lawyers and Licensed Paralegal Practitioners licensed by the Utah State Bar can practice law in Utah. Paralegals, notarios, immigration consultants and others may not give legal advice or otherwise practice law unless they are licensed lawyers or Licensed Paralegal Practitioners. You can use the Utah State Bar's directory to see if someone is a licensed Utah lawyer or Licensed Paralegal Practitioner.

Supreme Court Rule of Professional Practice 14-802 defines the practice of law. The rule also says that giving clerical help to fill out court forms is not the practice of law if no fee is charged. 

If you believe someone is practicing law without a license, you can report them to the Utah State Bar. For more information, see the Utah State Bar's Unauthorized Practice of Law web page.

 

Licensed Paralegal Practitioner

A licensed paralegal practitioner (LPP) is a professionally trained and licensed person who helps people with legal problems. They advise people about their legal rights and options and prepare legal documents in debt collection, family law and landlord-tenant cases. You can read more about what LPPs can and cannot help with on our Licensed Paralegal Practitioner page.

You can look for an LPP using the Utah State Bar's directory. Click the option for Licensed Paralegal Practitioners. You can ask if your LPP is willing to provide unbundled services, free consultations, a flat fee or other options.

 

Representing Yourself

If you do not qualify for a lawyer or cannot afford one you can try representing yourself using these resources.

Web Resources

The Utah courts have a comprehensive library of self-help resources on a variety of topics. Visit the Self-Help Resources page to look for information or forms.

The Utah courts also have an online document preparation tool called the Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) you can use to prepares papers in some kinds of cases.

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.

Self-Help Center

The Utah State Courts' Self-Help Center provides free legal help to people who do not have a lawyer. The Self-Help Center provides information to help you understand your rights and responsibilities, and to help you resolve your legal problems on your own if you cannot afford a lawyer or if you choose not to hire one. Services are available statewide.