Find a Lawyer

Start with the practice areas page to pick the kind of matter you have, then choose a state and a city. Texas firms are on the Texas lawyers page. Searches usually combine a problem and a place, such as divorce in Houston, immigration in El Paso or personal injury in San Antonio, and the directory is organized the same way.

Results are organized by state, city and practice-area category. Sponsored placements appear in a separate labelled band, at most two per page, and they do not change the meaning of the factual listings below them. Busca por problema legal, estado y ciudad: the directory works the same way whether you search for an abogado, a firma de abogados or a bufete.

If you are not sure which category fits, the legal guides explain common terms and processes by state, and you can come back to the directory afterward. You do not need to share confidential facts with Counselado at any point.

A listing is built to give you what you need before you call:

• The practice area or legal problem it is listed under
• The firm name and, when available, lawyer names
• City, state and the office address, with a map link for directions
• Phone number and website
• Hours
• The firm's Google business category

Languages appear only when the firm's own data states them, and fee information appears only when the firm publishes it. A Board Certification appears only when it is separately identified and supported. A practice-area category is a way to sort firms, not a certification and not a statement about suitability for your matter. Firm details can change, so confirm them with the firm before you travel or send documents.

Lawyers are licensed and disciplined by the state where they practice, and there is no national license to practice law. In Texas, the State Bar of Texas publishes answers for the public and a disciplinary process overview, and you can use its Find a Lawyer resource to confirm a lawyer's name, bar number, admission status and public disciplinary history.

Board Certification is a separate credential. In Texas, a lawyer may publicly identify as "Board Certified" only in an area certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization or by an organization it accredits. If a firm says a lawyer is board certified, ask which area and which certifying body.

Calling or visiting the firm's website is the next step, and a few questions make the call more useful:

• Does the firm handle this type of matter in this location?
• Who would handle the matter?
• What work is included in the fee?
• What fee arrangement is available, and what retainer, deposit, expenses or filing costs apply?
• What happens if the matter becomes contested, goes to trial or needs an appeal?
• Will the fee terms and scope be given to you in writing?
• What documents and deadlines should you bring or identify?

Fees usually come in one of three forms. An hourly fee is based on the time worked, plus stated expenses. A flat fee is a defined charge for a defined scope, so ask what it includes and excludes. A contingency fee is based on a recovery, usually as a percentage, so ask what percentage applies at settlement, at trial and on appeal, and how expenses are deducted.

The American Bar Association says that at the first meeting a lawyer should estimate the total cost and explain how the firm charges, in its guide to lawyer fees. ABA Model Rule 1.5 says the basis or rate of the fee and expenses should be communicated, preferably in writing, and that a contingent-fee agreement must be written and signed and state the percentage, the treatment of expenses and how the amount is calculated. Rules differ by state and by type of matter, so ask the firm which terms apply where you live.

If you run a firm, you can claim your listing to check its details or add your firm if it is not listed. Optional plans and Sponsored placement are explained on the plans and pricing page, and the attorney advertising page covers how paid placement is presented. Lawyer advertising rules vary by state, so confirm what applies to your firm.

Choose the legal problem and the location, then open a firm listing to call or visit its website. Start with the practice areas, or go straight to lawyers in Texas.