INTRODUCTION

The task of finding the right legal help can be a daunting one. Surveys
confirm that people use a variety of approaches to resolving legal
problems. Some choose to take no action (some noting that the cost of
taking action is greater then the benefits of taking the action). Others
seek assistance from government agencies (such as consumer protection
bureaus or the ombudsman program), attorneys or other professionals.
Still others decide to represent themselves. The choice is up to you and
will vary based on your personal situation, resources and the type of
problem at hand. A recent survey conducted by Temple University for the
American Bar Association noted, in part, that among moderate-income
households just over half (56%) of those who who identified themselves
as having a legal need sought help from an attorney or some type of
hearing body. Forty-four percent chose other approaches.

This guide is designed to offer tips on the broad range of choices--from
representing yourself to locating free or low-cost legal representation
to finding an attorney specializing in "elderlaw." The guide offers
practical information on the public and private resources available to
you as well as tips on reducing the costs of obtaining legal help. No
matter which option you choose, the premise upon which the following
dozen questions are based is that you are the decisionmaker and that the
more information you have about the law and your case, the better
prepared you will be to conduct or oversee the legal work needed.