FAMM is not a law firm and cannot provide you or your loved one with legal advice, referrals to attorneys, legal research, or representation. We do not respond to letters asking us for assistance with any of these items. *Please read our legal disclaimer.
However, if you are trying to find a lawyer to help you or a loved one, here are some tips and resources that may help.
- If you can afford to hire a lawyer: start with the lawyer referral service (LRS) run by your state or local bar association. The American Bar Association has an online lawyer referral service locator tool. Select your state, then contact the lawyer referral service closest to where you or your loved one are located.
- If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer: ask the judge to appoint a public defender to represent you the next time you appear in court.
Resources
National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Provides links to regional groups of private defense attorneys. Click on your state and contact the group nearest you for help with a referral.
Federal Public Defenders Directory
People being charged in federal courts can use this resource to contact the federal public defender's office nearest you.
PACER
For a small fee, search for and read federal (NOT state) court dockets, filings, court orders, and opinions. First, you must register and create an account with a credit card.
FAMM's FAQs on How to Find and Work With a Lawyer
Use our FAQ to get guidance on how to find, hire, pay, and work with an attorney, including raising disputes about fees and the attorney's performance.
The Innocence Project
Nonprofit legal clinic providing assistance to those claiming to be innocent. The Project only handles cases where post conviction DNA testing of evidence can yield conclusive proof of innocence.
ACLU National Prison Project Assistance Directory
A very helpful guide to locating national, state, and local resources for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their families.
ACLU National Prison Project
Handles class action suits involving prison conditions and related issues in state and federal institutions. Litigation is usually limited to cases involving major class actions challenging prison conditions or otherwise of national significance.
D.C. Prisoners' Project of the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
Provide legal services to D.C. Code offenders, wherever they are incarcerated, in confinement and non-confinement related civil matters. Serve as an individual representation clearinghouse on prisoners' rights issues related to D.C.; provide social services and health education (AIDS/HIV related); and more.
Southern Center for Human Rights
Nonprofit, public interest law firm representing prisoners in challenges to unconstitutional conditions and practices in prisons and jails; challenging systemic failures in the legal representation of poor people in the criminal courts; and representing people facing the death penalty who otherwise would have no representation.
Southern Poverty Law Center
Handles class action civil rights suits involving prison conditions, access to health care, aducation, voting rights, and hate crimes.