5. Contact the lawyer or paralegal

You may need to call a few lawyers or paralegals before finding one that will take your case and you're comfortable with. You can contact most lawyers and paralegals by phone or email. Be ready to give them basic information like your:

• name
• contact information
• legal problem

Give the lawyer or paralegal some time to respond to your call or email. Do not show up at their office without an appointment.

Arrange a meeting or phone appointment with the lawyer or paralegal to talk about your legal problem in more detail. Ask if there will be a charge. Some lawyers don't charge for the first meeting.

When you meet with a lawyer or paralegal or talk to them on the phone, remember that you're also interviewing them. They are not just getting information about you. You are deciding if you want to hire them to help you with your legal problem.