Guide to Finding Cleveland Ohio Lawyer

A rich and economically diverse city that offers as much for businessmen as it does for tourists, Cleveland Ohio can be a wonderful place to live, but that doesn’t mean that it is immune from the types of legal and financial fissures that may send Cleveland residents to search for a Cleveland Ohio lawyer. Legal procedures are a normal part of 21st Century life, but they are serious, and the task of finding a Cleveland Ohio lawyer should be done as methodically as possible.

Deciding You Need an Attorney

There are so many things that a Cleveland Ohio lawyer can assist you with, it’s remarkable that they’re not an even more important part of our lives. Here are just a few common reasons to hire a Cleveland Ohio lawyer:

• You are getting a divorce.

• You would like to contest a child custody, child support, or spousal support order.

• You are considering filing for bankruptcy.

• You would like to write a will, a trust, or any other type of personal contract.

• You are starting a business and would like legal assistance.

• You’ve suffered a damaging personal injury due to another’s neglect and would like to file a complaint.

• You are planning on buying or selling a large piece of real estate and would like someone to look over the contracts or to write purchasing contracts for you.

• You’ve been fined by the state or your small business has been closed because of a regulatory violation in a property you own.

• You would like to contest your worker’s compensation.

• A private individual has filed a suit against you in a civil court.

• The district attorney is bringing criminal charges against you.

Areas of Specialization

All attorneys have to go through a rigorous educational and testing process to become licensed attorneys. Only after three years of graduate school and the passing of a multi-day examination in all areas of law does someone become a licensed Cleveland Ohio lawyer. Because of these high standards, Cleveland Ohio lawyers are able to practice any type of law, but most still have one area in which they concentrate most of their efforts.

Some Cleveland Ohio lawyers may choose to have their areas of expertise formally recognized by the Ohio State Bar Association and the Ohio Supreme Court with an official Specialization. These specializations require additional education in a specific legal topic, further testing, a peer review and demonstrable commitment to the subject at hand. By no means are any Cleveland Ohio lawyers required to have a specialization to practice in any of the legal specialty areas. Yet the additional requirements for becoming a specialist should by themselves recommend those Cleveland Ohio lawyers with specialties.

Below are the areas that the Ohio State Bar Association offers specialties in. If any are pertinent to your case, a specialized Cleveland OH lawyer may be for you.

• Administrative agency law

• Appellate law

• Bankruptcy law

• Business law

• Creditor’s Rights and debt collection law

• Criminal trial and advocacy

• Elder law

• Estate planning, trust and probate law

• Family relations law

• Federal taxation law

• Labor and employment law

• Real property - business, commercial and industrial law

• Real property - residential law

• Trust and probate law

• Workers' compensation law

Finding a Cleveland OH Lawyer

There are so many Cleveland OH lawyers that it can be intimidating finding the right one for you. After all, you can’t just call any Cleveland OH lawyer you find in the phone book since you have no idea how good they are or if they even practice in an area of law that is relevant to you. Because of this, it is sometimes said that the best way to find a Cleveland OH lawyer is through a personal recommendation. That way you know the Cleveland OH lawyer has done a good job in the past.

Another good option is to look into lawyer referral programs. These services, which charge a small fee most of the time, recommend a Cleveland OH lawyer for you based on what you tell them about the legal procedures you want to do, where you live and what you are able to pay. You then get a free consultation with the Cleveland OH lawyer recommended by the service for you. The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association can be reached at (216) 696-3532.

Legal Resources

The Cleveland Bar Association and other legal organizations offer several services to the public that may be of considerable help to those looking for Cleveland OH lawyers, from the financially needy to those unsure about their legal options.

• Legal Aid Society of Cleveland: One of the oldest legal aid organizations in the country, the Legal Aid Society has over 50 Cleveland OH lawyers offering full-time assistance, with more 1,000 Cleveland OH lawyers volunteering their services throughout the year. They provide low-cost or even wholly free legal help to low-income Cleveland residents. Call (888) 817-3777 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or until 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to see if you qualify.

• Bankruptcy Pro Bono Project and Bankruptcy By-Pass Project: Volunteer Cleveland OH lawyers with this service help low-income citizens file for bankruptcy or take a similar financial measure (the “by-pass” of the name) which can be a very productive move for some seniors in high-debt situations. Call the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland to know more.

• Pro Se Divorce Clinics: If you don’t have any children, you are eligible to attend this clinic which assists persons filing for divorce work through their paperwork. If you’re filing in an uncontested divorce where the division of goods has already been decided, this can be a cheap and easy alternative to costly legal representation.

• Reach Out Prop Bono for Nonprofits: This program is for nonprofit organizations with low income streams, offering them free legal assistance though Cleveland OH lawyers willing to tackle complex business issues at no cost for eligible charitable organizations.