How to Find the Right Lawyer or Legal Help

Call a local State Bar-certified Lawyer Referral Service.

     You can receive a recommendation from a reliable source by seeking a referral from a Lawyer Referral Service. You can call a referral service and explain your matter, after which the referral staff will determine the most appropriate resource or match you with a lawyer who is experienced in the appropriate area of law that you need. This method of finding a lawyer has the advantage of obtaining someone who has experience in the field that relates to your case. The other advantage of calling a lawyer referral service is that it can be determined if you do in fact have a legal issue which requires a lawyer or if you need some other type of assistance.

To find a lawyer in Santa Barbara County, contact the Santa Barbara Lawyer Referral Service at (805) 569-9400, a non-profit service of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association.  

Find Free Legal Aid and Assistance:

     If you do have a case that requires a lawyer, but you cannot afford one, the next option is to contact your local legal aid office. These types of organizations can provide you with free or pro bono legal assistance if you are of low-income. They provide assistance if you qualify in particular areas of law.

To find the free legal aid near you, contact your local county bar association or referral service.

You may also want to contact the California Rural Legal Assistance in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria. This organization is a civil public interest law firm that helps the poor in the areas of health, housing, education, government benefits, employment and individual rights. CRLA offers a variety of services and programs to low-income communities in California.

Contact the California Rural Legal Assistance in Santa Barbara at 805-963-5982 or in Santa Maria  at 805-922-4563