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Lawyer Referral Service - (203) 562-5750
Modest Means Reduced Fee Referral Program - (203) 562-0162
Calls taken Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
A personal referral is often the best way to find a lawyer who meets your particular needs. If your relatives, business associates or close friends are unable to recommend a lawyer, most county bar associations in Connecticut provide a public service known as a Lawyer Referral Service.
The Lawyer Referral Service is different from Connecticut’s Statewide Legal Services and other “legal aid” organizations. Legal aid programs are services that assist individuals at no charge who have limited financial resources and who meet specific eligibility guidelines. Please call Statewide Legal Services at (800) 453-3320 for further information.
The New Haven County Bar Association sponsors a not-for-profit Lawyer Referral Service that refers members of the public to private attorneys. This program is the only one in Connecticut that meets the American Bar Association's standards for lawyer referral and information services.
Established in 1952, Lawyer Referral matches people with possible legal issues with prescreened, qualified attorneys. The attorneys are all members in good standing of the New Haven County Bar Association, have completed specific applications to participate, all carry malpractice insurance, and are evaluated once a year to be sure they have no outstanding grievances with the State of Connecticut.
If you have a legal problem and wish to speak with an attorney, call the Lawyer Referral Service at (203) 562-5750 or send us an e-mail briefly stating your question and the times you can be reached by telephone. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Referrals are only made over the telephone or by e-mail. A referral consultant may ask you a few questions to determine the nature of your situation.
If it is determined that you would benefit from discussing your problem with a lawyer, we will refer you to a private attorney for a consultation. You will be given the name and telephone number of an attorney, whom you must then contact and arrange for your half-hour consultation that is included in the referral fee. The referral consultant might also refer you to an appropriate government or social service agency.
There is a $35 referral fee for most types of cases except personal injury matters. This fee is due at the time of referral. The NHCBA accepts Mastercard, Visa and Discover, or payment by money order can be mailed to the office in advance of a referral. The fee goes to offset the program’s administrative costs.
Once the client has met with the attorney, if it is determined by the attorney that further legal service is required, the fee arrangement is between the client and the lawyer. Please note, this service does not provide pro bono (free) legal assistance. For reduced fee services, please see the separate Modest Means Referral Program described below.
Please be reminded that the Lawyer Referral Service is a public service provided by the New Haven County Bar Association. The LRS does not provide legal advice. The LRS client will receive the name and telephone number of a private attorney. It is that individual’s responsibility to contact the attorney and make the appointment for the consultation.
The Lawyer Referral Service cannot guarantee a favorable result. LRS refers individuals to licensed attorneys who have registered with the service to receive referrals in specific areas of law.
Contact the NHCBA Lawyer Referral Service.
The NHCBA also sponsors a separate referral program for certain types of family law, landlord/tenant, unemployment compensation and minor criminal cases. There is a $25 referral fee to use this service. If the individual qualifies under our Financial Guidelines (assets no more than 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines), they would be referred to an attorney who has agreed to consult with clients and possibly take the case for a $60 an hour fee, which is lower than the usual hourly rate in this area.
Family cases have some restrictions; only new family matters filed in the New Haven or Milford courts are currently being accepted. These matters include divorce, child support or custody modifications matters that are not already in litigation.
Call Modest Means at (203) 562-0162 for more information. Program information and forms are available below for downloading (PDF format).
Contact the NHCBA Lawyer Referral Service.
For a referral to a private attorney in your area, please call the LRS directly during business hours at (203) 562-5750. You may also submit an e-mail detailing your situation, and a Referral Consultant will contact you by e-mail or telephone. Please be sure to include a daytime telephone number where you can be reached.