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FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Westmoreland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service?
- How does the Lawyer Referral Service work?
- Is there a fee to contact the Westmoreland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service?
- Will the attorney charge a fee?
- Do you have a list of attorneys who will work out a payment plan?
- How are attorneys selected to be on the panel?
- Do you have a list of pro bono attorneys?
Q: What is the Westmoreland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service?
A: The Westmoreland Bar Association Lawyer
Referral Service is a program of the Westmoreland Bar Association and provides
the name of an attorney in a particular area of law to a member of the
public. The Westmoreland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service answers
hundreds of calls annually from individuals with various legal matters.
The Lawyer Referral Service does not provide referrals to pro bono
(free) attorneys, but rather will direct you to a qualified attorney or
agency to help you with your legal problem.
Q: How does the Lawyer Referral Service work?
A: The Lawyer Referral Service now provides an online form which can be accessed directly from this Web site by clicking on the link provided below.
Go Directly to the
WBA Lawyer Referral Service Online Referral Form»
Should you wish to speak with one of our Lawyer Referral
Service agents by phone, call 724-834-8490 or toll-free 1-877-GET-LWYR
(1-877-438-5997). The hours of operation are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., Monday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday. When
you call, listen to the prerecorded message and press the appropriate numbers
on your telephone when prompted. A Lawyer Referral Service agent will
conduct a brief phone interview with you, asking a series of questions
for prequalification purposes. Please remember, the agents are not attorneys
and cannot provide legal advice.
The caller will be charged $30, payable by credit card or money order
(no charge for Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability
or Workers' Compensation cases). After your payment is processed, the agent
will arrange an appointment day and time with an attorney who handles cases
in the area of law that addresses the problem.
The attorney and the caller will receive a confirmation
of the referral.
** Please note, for those of you who prefer the convenience
of our Online Lawyer Referral method, the same basic procedures will apply.
The only exceptions are:
- you will be required to complete a simple, online questionnaire in lieu of a brief telephone interview
- you will receive electronic confirmation of your received submission
- You will be contacted by phone within one business day to complete the intake and provide the referral.
Q: Is there a fee to contact the Westmoreland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service?
A: Yes. The Westmoreland Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service charges a $30 administration fee (excluding Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability or Workers' Compensation cases).
Q: Will the attorney charge a fee?
A: No. The participating attorneys have agreed
to waive the fee for the first 30 minutes of the consultation. However,
if your initial consultation extends beyond 30 minutes the attorney may
charge you a consultation fee. You do have the right to end the consultation
after 30 minutes and the attorney may choose to not charge you if the consultation
extends beyond 30 minutes.
Should you choose to hire the attorney to whom you are referred,
you and the attorney must discuss fees beyond the first half-hour consultation.
Q: Do you have a list of attorneys who will work out a payment plan?
A: No. The Lawyer Referral Service does not maintain any information on payment arrangements of any of its attorneys. Callers are encouraged to ask the attorney about this prior to their initial consultation.
Q: How are attorneys selected to be on the panel?
A: Panel membership is open to any Pennsylvania-licensed attorney who is a member in good standing of the Westmoreland Bar Association, who provides proof of liability insurance coverage and who maintains an office in the county in which he/she registers to receive referrals.
Q: Do you have a list of free (pro bono) attorneys?
A: No. The Lawyer Referral Service does not
provide referrals to pro bono attorneys. All panel members on our
service expect to be paid for their services, except in cases where
a contingency fee structure has been established.
If you wish to see if you qualify for free legal help, please contact
the Westmoreland Pro Bono Program at 724-837-5539 or Laurel Legal Services
at 724-836-2211.
Go back to main referral page»
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