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The Oregon State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service & Modest Means Program

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Lawyer Referral Service

The Lawyer Referral Service gives referrals to people who are looking for a lawyer. There are more than 500 lawyers in the service. There are lawyers all over the state. The Lawyer Referral Service can help you find the right lawyer based on things like:

  • The kind of legal help you need
  • The location where you live or work 
  • If you need a lawyer who speaks a language besides English
  • If you need a lawyer outside of Oregon

The Lawyer Referral Service makes sure that all the lawyers it refers people to are in good standing with the bar and carry professional liability insurance. The service does not rate the lawyers.

If you see a lawyer through the Lawyer Referral Service, you will get a first meeting of up to 30 minutes and not pay more than $35 for the first meeting. The Lawyer Referral Service does not know how much a lawyer may charge you after the first meeting.

The Lawyer Referral Service does not have the names of free lawyers, who are sometimes called “pro bono” lawyers. Read the information below about the Modest Means Program for information about lower legal charges.

If you are not sure whether you need a lawyer, you can still call the Lawyer Referral Service. Staff can help you identify the type of help you need, or give you more information about other programs that may be able to assist you. Those other programs may be the Oregon State Bar, government resources or community services.

To get referred to a lawyer:

  • Contact us online.
  • Call us 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.


Modest Means Program

The Modest Means Program provides lawyers to help people for less money than usual. You can qualify for help based on:

  • Your income and assets,
  • The kind of legal help you need, and
  • The availability of participating lawyers.

If you qualify for the Modest Means Program, you will get a first meeting of up to 30 minutes and not pay more than $35 for the first meeting. After the first meeting, the lawyer will charge you $60, $80 or $100 per hour. The hourly amount you are charged depends on your income and assets.
You must apply to the Modest Means Program. You may mail, email or fax the application form. The program will contact you to let you know if you qualify. If you do qualify, the program will give you the lawyer’s name and contact information.

You can download a Modest Means Program application online here.


Updated December 2018



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