How can I find a pro bono lawyer?

If you are indigent, the Court will appoint an attorney to represent you at no charge to you.   In order to determine if you are indigent, you will have to fill out a form that contains questions about your income, assets and liabilities.  In Florida, where you are from, the clerk of the court where your charge is pending can provide you with the form.  When you return the completed form, the clerk will review it and determine if you are indigent and qualify for qualify for court- appointed counsel.  If you do, the public defender’s office  will be appointed to represent you, unless its office has a conflict, in which case another attorney will be appointed.  Florida charges a $50 indigency application fee, but if you cannot afford it, the Court can defer it. You cannot be denied counsel because you don’t have the fee.If your application is denied, you can request a review. If  you are still determined not to be indigent, or if you decide to retain private counsel for other reasons, you will find that lawyers’ fees, as well as payment arrangements,  can vary greatly. Since you are charged with a serious felony, you should be prepared to pay at least a  portion of your lawyer’s fee at the beginning, before he or she enters an appearance on your behalf.  Many lawyers will accept partial payment at the beginning of the case, and set up a payment schedule for the remainder of the fee.  For an aggravated battery felony charge, you will want to seek out an attorney in your jurisdiction with experience defending state court felony charges.Most attorneys now have websites that disclose their areas of practice and whether they provide free initial consultations.  When you call to schedule an initial consultation, you can inquire as to whether the attorney accepts payment plans, and only schedule a consultation with those who are open to the idea. I recommend you interview several attorneys, and discuss payment options with them in person.  The amount of the  fee should not be your only consideration. Your primary considerations should be whether you believe the attorney is experienced in handling your type of criminal case and appears interested in you and your case.  Keep in mind that no  lawyer can guarantee any particular result in your case. Finally, you should be aware that in addition to legal fees, you are likely to incur costs, such as fees for the services of a private investigator  expert witnesses and costs for police and witness depositions before trial (these are allowed in Florida.)   If you are able to retain private counsel but cannot also afford costs, your attorney can apply to the court to have such expenses paid by the state. Jeralyn E. Merritt, Ask a Lawyer Panelist since 1998.