Need help finding a lawyer who handles your type of legal issue? The Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service provides information on the more than 650 lawyers statewide who have signed up with the service. The Lawyer Referral 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. Potential clients are entitled to an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes for a maximum fee of $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.
The Lawyer Referral Service does not maintain a list of pro bono or free lawyers; however, the bar does offer a 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.
If you qualify for the OSB Modest Means Program, you are entitled to an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes for a maximum fee of $35. And, depending upon your income and assets, the Modest Means lawyer will not charge you more than $60, $80 or $100 per hour for any service provided after the initial consultation. (The hourly rate you are charged will be based on the tier you qualify for, according to your income and assets.)
To apply for the program, you must complete a Modest Means Program application and submit it via fax, email or U.S. mail. The program will then contact you to let you know whether you qualify, and provide you with the lawyer’s name and contact information if you do.
You can download a Modest Means Program application online.You can also request a Lawyer Referral Service referral online. Or, call the Lawyer Referral Service from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (503) 684-3763 in Portland, or toll-free elsewhere in Oregon at (800) 452-7636.
If you are not sure whether or not you need to speak with a lawyer, you may still want to call the Lawyer Referral 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 assist you.
Updated August 2013