Guide to Finding Indianapolis Lawyer

What is an Indianapolis Lawyer?

An Indianapolis lawyer is an attorney, barred in the State of Indiana, who represents clients in criminal and civil actions in the City of Indianapolis in the County of Marion, Indiana. Indianapolis lawyers practice in all areas of litigation. Civil Indianapolis lawyers practice for plaintiffs and defendants in areas including personal injury, contracts, real estate, landlord/tenant, wills and trusts, corporate law and many others. Criminal Indianapolis Lawyers focus their practices primarily on defendant’s who have been accused of misdemeanors, felonies, and traffic violations.

Indianapolis lawyers must be barred in the State of Indiana, be in good standing and meet the disciplinary requirements of the Indiana Bar Association. In order to be an Indianapolis lawyer an individual must pass the Indiana Bar Exam. The Indiana Bar Exam is a two day examination. The first day consists of 4 essay questions and 2 Multi-State Performance tests. The MPT is a 90 minute exam question that gauges an applicants ability to take evidence and, both statutory and common law, and compose a memo or brief detailing the legal issue. Day 2 of the Indiana Bar Exam consists of the Multi State Bar Exam, or MBE, a nationwide multiple choice examination administered by the National Bar Association. The Indiana Bar Examiners Office weighs the MPT at 20% of the overall score with the essays being 30% and the MBE at 50%. In addition, an applicant must take the MPRE and get a passing score of 80. The passing rate for the Indiana Bar Exam is around 80%.

Reporting Discipline about Indianapolis Lawyers?

If you have had a problem with your Indianapolis Lawyer, or you know of illegal or unethical actions taken by a Indianapolis Lawyer, it is important that you report that matter to the Indiana Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Commission. The Indiana Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Commission hears all complaints taken about Indianapolis lawyers who have been accused of violating the rules of professional responsibility. The Indiana Supreme Court mandates that anyone filing a grievance must complete the complaint form found at www.in.gov and submit it to the Indian Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee at:

Disciplinary CommitteeG. Michael WhiteExecutive Secretary30 South Meridian St., Suite 850Indianapolis, IN 46204

If the disciplinary committee believes misconduct has occurred then the complaint will be forwarded to the Clerk of the Supreme Court for formal charges.

Why do I need an Indianapolis lawyer?

Depending on your case you will need an Indianapolis lawyer. Courts in the Indianpolis court system have their own rules of procedure that other lawyers, even in other parts of Indiana will not be aware of. Indianapolis lawyers will be knowlegable of the filing deadlines, rules comprising the format of complaints and pleadings, and the particular rules of a specific court.

Where do I find an Indianapolis lawyer?

Looking for Indianapolis lawyers can be somewhat overwhelming. When this happens you should take advantage of the Indiana Bar Association’s legal referral service. The referral service can be contacted by calling 317-269-2222. By calling the number a representative will ask you for your basic contact information and a description of your legal problem. From that information the representative will give you the information of an Indianapolis lawyer in your area that will be able to help. There is a $35 fee that will be charged by the lawyer that is referred by the service. This covers the cost of a 20 minute consultation visit. Any decisions for legal representation made after this consultation are between you and the Indianapolis lawyer. You are under no further obligation to have the Indianapolis lawyer represent you and the Indianapolis lawyer is not required to take on your legal matter.

Indianapolis lawyers will charge a different number of fees. In criminal actions your Indianapolis criminal lawyer will usually charge a flat fee or hourly fee with a retainer involved. An Indianapolis personal injury lawyer will usually work on a contingency fee basis, while if your case is based on contract you will probably be charged based on an hourly rate.

What if I can’t afford an Indianapolis lawyer?

If you are in need of an Indianapolis lawyer but you cannot afford representation then you may require the help of legal aide services in Indianapolis. Indianapolis lawyers are required to volunteer a number of hours per year for pro bono services. You can look for resources for free legal aid through www.indybar.org. By going to that site you will should click on the “community” link. From there click on the “legal help links” for a list of legal aid services in Indianapolis that may be contacted for help from Indianapolis lawyers. In order to take advantage of legal aide services an individual must have income below 125% of the national poverty level.

What questions should I ask a Indianapolis Lawyer?

When you are interviewing Indianapolis Lawyers about possible representation you should have a number of specific questions ready to ask, including:

■ Where did you go to law school?

■ Are you barred in the state of Indiana?

■ Have you ever been disciplined by any bar association?

■ How often do you handle cases like mine?

■ Will you be handling my case personally?

■ What do you see as the problem with my case?

■ What do you see as the result of this litigation?

■ Are you familiar with the court procedures and personnel in the filing jurisdiction?

■ How long have you been practicing in Indianapolis?