31 May How can I find a pro bono lawyer?

Q. I don’t have money for a lawyer. How can I find someone to help pro bono?
– Broke

A. Lawyer jokes aside, there are actually many good qualified attorneys who may be able to help you at little or no charge.

The type of help you may receive depends on the type of case you have, said Timothy Brunnock, a financial advisor and attorney with Trinity Financial Strategies in Morristown.

Brunnock said for a personal injury case, lawyers typically charge a contingency fee.

“This means that you do not pay them a fee unless they recover money on your behalf,” he said. “The typical contingency fee is 33 percent of the net recovery, minus expenses.”

Criminal matters are a different story.

“If you are faced with a criminal charge and cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you – as I’m sure you’ll remember from the old TV shows when the cop `reads them their rights,’” Brunnock said. “Even in municipal court, you can make an application to the court for the services of the municipality’s public defender.”

If you need legal help for other types of cases, you can contact the Lawyer Referral Service of the county in which you reside, Brunnock said. The Lawyer Referral Service will direct you to an attorney who specializes in your type of legal matter, and you will be able to confer with that attorney for as little as $25.

Good luck!

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