Find a Lawyer or Free Legal Help in Pennsylvania

Official places in Pennsylvania to find a lawyer through the bar's referral service or to get free civil legal help if you have a low income. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.

Lawyer referral service	The Pennsylvania Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) connects people with a qualified attorney in the right location. Complete the online form (available 24/7) or call 800-932-0311 (select option 2) and describe your legal issue to get an immediate referral, then contact the attorney directly. The initial 30-minute consultation costs no more than $30. The PBA LRS operates in 47 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Source: Pennsylvania Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service
Free legal aid	Free civil legal aid for low-income Pennsylvanians is provided by regional legal aid programs. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) lists seven Pennsylvania grantees: Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, MidPenn Legal Services, Neighborhood Legal Services Association, North Penn Legal Services, Northwestern Legal Services, Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center, and Summit Legal Aid. Source: Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees
Check that the lawyer is licensed	The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania offers a public attorney search to view an attorney's contact information and disciplinary history. Search by last name, first name, attorney ID number, city, county or license status; status definitions are on a linked page. Source: Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Find an Attorney
Check discipline history or file a complaint	Complaints about Pennsylvania attorneys go to the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and its Office of Disciplinary Counsel. File online with the electronic form, or print, sign and mail the complaint form (available in English and several other languages) to the district office where the attorney practices. You receive an acknowledgment and file number; Disciplinary Counsel investigates and may contact you, the attorney and others, and you get official notice of the outcome. Complaints are kept confidential except as the rules allow, and the process does not provide money or legal advice. The Board's attorney search shows disciplinary history; some prior discipline documents are online and others can be requested from the Executive Office ($0.50 per page). Board main line: 717.231.3380. Source: Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, File a Complaint; Find an Attorney
Rules on contingency fees	Under Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c), a contingent fee agreement must be in writing and state how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal, litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. At the end, the lawyer must give the client a written statement showing the remittance and how it was determined. Rule 1.5(d) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony or support, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. Rule 1.5(b) also requires the basis or rate of the fee to be communicated in writing to clients the lawyer has not regularly represented. Source: Pa. Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5 (204 Pa. Code § 81.4)
If you disagree with a lawyer's bill	Fee disputes are not normally handled through Pennsylvania's discipline process; the Disciplinary Board directs clients to contact the bar association in the county where the attorney practices. Source: Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, File a Complaint
If a lawyer takes your money	The Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security reimburses victims of attorney dishonesty in the practice of law. The maximum award is $150,000 per claimant, with a $1,000,000 aggregate cap per attorney (effective February 24, 2014) that only the Supreme Court can exceed. Awards are discretionary. Filing is free and a lawyer is not required; mail the original signed Statement of Claim Form with supporting documents (scanned, emailed or faxed copies are accepted, though originals may be requested). Source: Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security, Frequently Asked Questions

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.