Last page edit 12/17/07 

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Finding an Elder Law Lawyer

The best way to find a lawyer can depend on what kind of legal problem you have.  One of the best ways to find a lawyer has always been to ask friends or family who have used a lawyer.  The "Lawyers" section of the yellow pages has ads arranged by areas of law for many lawyers. 

Not sure if you need a lawyer, or have a simple legal question?  You can call the Maryland Senior Legal Hotline toll free from anywhere in Maryland at 1-800-896-4213. 

Free Legal Assistance For Seniors
For-Fee Legal Assistance
Reduced-Fee Legal Assistance
 

Find a Lawyer in Area of Concentration

General Information on How to Find an Attorney

  60+ Program
(wills, powers of attorney)

For-Fee Legal Assistance

 

Free Legal Assistance

The links below go to the websites of other organizations or companies outside the Peoples Law Library.
  • Lawyer Referral Service - Referral panels that can locate a lawyer by geographic area and areas of law handled.  Usually, there is a small fee for an initial consultation, and then the fee for any further legal work depends on the agreement between you and the lawyer.
  • AARP - Tips for Consumers on Hiring an Attorney
    This lists some good suggestions for hiring an attorney. It also has information about AARP's Legal Services Network where an AARP member would get a 30 minute free consultation and then an opportunity to hire that attorney at a discounted hourly rate.
  • Search the West Publishing Company's Legal Directory to find a lawyer
  • Search the Martindale-Hubble list of lawyers to find a lawyer by area of practice, geographic area, etc
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - This is an organization of lawyers who practice "Elder Law."  You can search for lawyers in your area who belong to NAELA from their web site.
  • Source: Legal Aid Bureau

      The free legal assistance programs listed here have limitations about who they can represent.  They may have financial eligibility guidelines or other restrictions.  Free legal assistance programs generally do NOT provide legal assistance in:
  • Criminal case
  • "Fee-Generating" cases - this includes cases where someone is suing for money damages or where the law provides for the court to award attorney's fees. 
  • Generally, free legal assistance programs' case acceptance guidelines are designed to provide for assistance to people who cannot afford a lawyer or who have a type of problem that is not usually handled by lawyers in private practice. 

    Examples of the types of legal problems the free legal services programs do handle are evictions, unsafe housing, loss of Social Security or other government benefits, and Medical Assistance (Medicaid) problems. 

    Last Legal Review- 10-15-07 (MLAN/AC)

    Is this legal advice? This site offers legal information, not legal advice.  We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options.  However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.  See our section on Finding Legal Help.

    About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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