Vermont Librarians' Legal Information Toolkit: Find a Lawyer

In many situations, a conversation with a lawyer might be the most helpful resource for a patron. A lawyer can help a patron navigate the legal issue and process and provide advice for the steps that the patron should take.

There are multiple ways to find a lawyer in Vermont:

1. Depending on the legal issue, there may be an organization available to assist with the specific issue. For example, there is a monthly small claims clinic held in Chittenden County. Please refer to the Vermont civil legal resources guide  for additional information.
2. The Vermont Bar Association (VBA) has a lawyer referral service that will match a patron with an attorney, and the first 30-minute consultation will cost no more than $25. 
3. A patron may submit a question online to Vermont Free Legal Answers for a volunteer lawyer to answer. 
4. A patron can explore the Vermont Judiciary legal self-help page. 

And finally, we all know that listening to a patron talk through their issue is extremely helpful, as legal matters often lead to stressful situations. By listening, we can help create - and write down - a timeline for the patron to refer to when they feel overwhelmed with the task at hand. This will help the patron articulate or refine what their questions are, what they hope to learn, or what they need to research. Additionally, this timeline will serve as a useful tool for the patron in future conversations with attorneys, judges, court clerks, or other law professionals.