SJ, I had a feeling you would like this one.
Serious question; are these databases publicly searchable? Is there a national site or is it state by state? What search terms do you use on a search engine to get in the right places?
I'm as green on some of this stuff as everyone else!
Originally Posted by Chica Chaser
Are these databases publicly searchable?
Yes.
Is there a national site or is it state by state?
There's no national site. Databases are maintained and can be searched state by state.
What search terms do you use on a search engine to get in the right places?
The databases have preset search terms to find the right lawyer in the right location.
There are so many better ways to find an attorney than posting on this board. As I've written many times before, providers post lawyer ISOs and some jackal lawyer contacts them, gets some free wangy-bangy, then screws up their case. The girl gets fucked and then gets fucked, too. Also, some non-lawyers post on this board offering legal advice. It's nearly always wrong. So although it's free, the advice isn't worth the price of making a mistake with your case or issue.
Attorneys are licensed by courts. For example, in Texas, attorneys are licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Attorneys in Texas may also apply for admission to federal courts or the courts in other states. There is no national database including all attorneys licensed by all the courts. Each state court has its own searchable database. Also, there are trade groups for attorneys with searchable databases or books with members listed. One example is the National Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, of which I've been a member for 24 years. You can also find a lawyer through the local bar association or by using the search function on a private site, like
www.lawyers.com.
The State Bar of Texas has a database that can be searched by name, city, area of practice, and whether the attorney is board-certified in an area of law, among other things. For example, to be board-certified in family law, an attorney has to practice in that area of law for a number of years, then pass a comprehensive written test on family law. (He or she must also pass a psychological test to be able to withstand huge amounts of crap from his client. That's one reason I'm not board-certified in family law. Haha.) Here's the link to the search screen:
State Bar of Texas, Find a Lawyer
A page on the Dallas Bar Association web site lists many organizations providing low-cost or no-cost legal services to people with various needs:
Dallas Bar Association, Community Legal Resources
Finally, I'll say it again:
PAY YOUR LAWYER -- DON'T EXPECT HE OR SHE TO WORK FOR FREE. LAWYERS ARE SEMI-HUMAN AND OFTEN HAVE HUNGRY SPAWN TO FEED. ALSO, PAY YOUR LAWYER WITH MONEY, NOT PUSSY.