GUIDE FOR A COMPLAINANT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY

We strongly suggests that you hire an attorney licensed in your state familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the particular context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)

If you request/requested us to help you in this regard, we may submit the request to various individuals, organizations, and electronic media to help you find an attorney. However, you should understand that there is no guarantee that an attorney will be located via this networking service who will be able to help you. Ultimately, the responsibility for finding an attorney, remains with you.

We strongly suggest that you seek out an attorney on your own. Our informational services are not a substitute for legal services, and neither I nor those I work with can provide you legal advice. Our informational services are best used in conjunction with the services of an attorney licensed in your state. It is very important that you have an attorney representing you to provide you legal advice and to protect your rights!

To find an attorney on your own, we suggest the following course of action:

• Call the local chapter of the ACLU (look in your local telephone book in the business section of the white pages under "American Civil Liberties Union"). Ask them if the ACLU would be willing to take your case or if it could refer you to attorneys who might be willing to take your case. Request them to provide names of attorneys familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)
• Call lawyers referral services, if available (look in your local telephone book in the yellow pages under "lawyers referral services"). Request them to provide names of attorneys familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)
• Call the State Bar Association (look in your local telephone book in the business section of the white pages or in the blue pages under "[state name] [State] Bar Association"). Request them to provide names of attorneys familiar with freedom of religion law as well as the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)
• Contact the local Bar Association and ask if there is a pro bono program. Many local bar associations lower there dues if the members do assigned pro bono or reduced cost work.
• Call attorneys directly (look in the your local telephone book in the yellow pages under "attorneys" or "lawyers"). Contact attorneys that advertise experience in the law relating to the context of your case (i.e., employment/education discrimination law, criminal law, divorce/custody law, military law, or prison law.)

If you think you cannot afford an attorney, we suggest the following course of action:

• Ask the ACLU, the lawyers referral services, and the State Bar Association to provide names of attorneys willing to work on a sliding scale (based on income) or willing to work for free (pro bono).
• Ask the attorneys advertised in the telephone book if they are willing to work on a sliding scale (based on income) or work for free (pro bono).
• Contact legal aid services in your area, if available. These can be found in your local telephone book in the yellow pages under "legal aid services" "legal aid clinics" or "legal clinics".

If you are asking for an attorney to work on a sliding scale or on a pro bono basis, it will be harder to find an attorney, but not impossible. Keep trying!