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How callers can find and hire a lawyer, local panelists say
Summary
Panelists on Dial-A-Lawyer in Missoula walked listeners through practical steps for finding counsel, typical initial fees and the value of written retainer agreements, and pointed to the state Lawyer Referral Service and local listings as starting points.
Missoula — Local attorneys on the Dial-A-Lawyer live call-in program advised listeners to use specialty listings, the Montana Lawyer Referral Service and personal recommendations when looking for counsel and to discuss fees and written retainer agreements up front.
The guidance came during a May radio broadcast of the program, when callers asked how to find lawyers and how much an initial consultation typically costs. Host (unnamed) and panelists Ralph Kerscher (bankruptcy specialist), Jim O’Brien (O’Brien Law Office) and Karen Townsend (Deputy County Attorney, Missoula County Attorney’s Office) all encouraged callers to identify attorneys who advertise the relevant specialty and to confirm fee arrangements before hiring.
“Look and see what their specialties are,” Townsend said when describing where to start. Ralph Kerscher said, “one has to really consider the assets that you may have,” while explaining why specialists sometimes are necessary depending on a client’s legal needs. Jim O’Brien added that many lawyers waive an initial consultation fee, and the broadcast discussed typical consultation fees “from $25 to $50” for noncomplex matters. Kerscher said his firm “mandatorily require[s] some type of written, documentation agreement” to avoid misunderstandings about the scope of work.
Panelists pointed callers to the Montana Lawyer Referral Service in Helena as a statewide entry point and recommended local yellow-pages listings and lawyer directories for specialty searches. For small disputes, the panel noted small-claims procedures through justice of the peace courts, with a caller on the show identifying the limit as $750 and the judge deciding the case without lawyers.
Panelists also advised listeners to seek a specialist when the problem warrants it and to ask about whether an attorney will work with a correspondent counsel in another state if jurisdictional issues arise. The program closed by reminding listeners to call the number on screen and to contact panelists privately for referrals if they had urgent needs.
The broadcast was a discussion only; no formal legal advice was provided on air and no agency action was taken.
