ACBA Lawyer Referral Service

50+ Years of Service to the Community

The Alameda County Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) has been the trusted source for lawyer referrals in Alameda County for over 50 years. The State Bar of California regulates and certifies our program. 

Our LRS can match you with a pre-screened Alameda County lawyer qualified to help you with your legal needs. The lawyers in our network have been carefully screened to make sure that they have ample experience in the area of law in which you need help.

need a lawyer

Ready to talk to a lawyer? 3 Options:

1. Online Appointment*

You can book an online appointment with an LRS attorney without waiting to speak with an LRS staff person:

  • Step One: Quickly book an online appointment through our online system Qase
  • Step Two: Connect with your lawyer – At your appointment time, you can connect with the lawyer by phone or video on any device. No app download is required. 

You can then choose to continue to work with your lawyer, all online.

Booking an online appointment is right for you if you:

  • know that you have a legal issue in one of the following areas:
    • Employment
    • Business
    • Housing/real estate
    • Immigration
    • Collections
    • Estate Planning
    • Personal Injury (negligence, slip and falls, vehicle accidents, assault/battery)
    • Family Law
  • have the means to pay for a lawyer’s services
  • are willing to work with a lawyer by phone or videoconference; and
  • can communicate in English (if you cannot, we have services available in Spanish and Mandarin/Cantonese. Please call 510.302-2222 press 1 for Spanish and 2 for Mandarin/Cantonese)

2. Leave us an online request

This is the quickest way to reach our referral specialists. CLICK HERE TO SEND US A MESSAGE ONLINE NOW

3. Call 510.302.2222 and press option 4

The LRS phone lines are open from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. If you call our phone lines during our open hours, you will have a chance to speak directly with an LRS staff person. Press 1 for Spanish and press 2 for Mandarin/Cantonese.

You can  reach us any time of day using options 1 or 2 above.

Please note that LRS does not guarantee that an attorney will take a client’s case.

*Online referral booking is powered by Qase. Qase privacy and terms. Qase is optimized for the Firefox, Chrome and Safari browsers. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the ACBA Lawyer Referral Service work?

Our Lawyer Referral Service has been the trusted source for lawyer referrals in Alameda County for over 50 years. The State Bar of California regulates and certifies our program. For most areas of law, we can provide you with up to two attorney referrals.

Upon contacting the attorney, you would arrange for a free initial consultation that will last no more than 30 minutes. After the consultation, the attorney will decide if they can represent or assist you. We cannot guarantee that an attorney will take your case; this is a decision for the attorney to make.

If the attorney is able to represent you, the attorney will discuss with you their fee schedule. Most attorneys charge an hourly rate for their time. A typical hourly rate will range between $300 to $400 per hour. Some attorneys also charge a retainer fee that can range between $3,000 to $5,000.

How do I know I’m getting the right lawyer for my case?

The Alameda County lawyer referral service has attorneys practicing in more than 70 different areas of law. We screen all LRS attorneys for their experience, knowledge and professionalism.

Why not just find a lawyer in the phone book or ask a friend?

People have trusted our LRS for lawyer referrals in Alameda County for more than 50 years. We are regulated and certified by the State Bar of California. All LRS attorneys are pre-screened for their experience, knowledge, and professionalism. Additionally, all LRS attorneys are required to carry malpractice insurance. This allows you and your attorney to focus on what’s important—resolving your legal problem.

I don’t have money for an attorney; what should I do?

Please visit our resources page for a list of agencies in the Bay Area who may be able to help you. Legal Access Alameda holds legal clinics in a limited number of areas of law if you meet income guidelines.

I need free legal help. Can you help me?

You may be able to attend one of our free legal clinics if you have a case in Alameda County. We do not provide an attorney to go with you to court, but our volunteers can help with paperwork and give advice. Find out more information on our clinics here

How do I file a complaint against my attorney? 

You can register a complaint with the California State Bar if your lawyer acted unethically.
 

How much does an Alameda County Lawyer cost?

The average hourly rate for a lawyer in Alameda County is between $200 and $400.

Where can I find a list of legal resources?

Click here to view our page of resources.

Bankruptcy

Individual and commercial bankruptcy, collections, debt collection defense

Business

Contracts, partnerships, business disputes

Employment

Wrongful termination, review of employment contracts, and severance agreements

Family

Divorce, spousal support, child custody, visitation, and support, adoption

Immigration

Deportation defense, visas, political asylum


Personal Injury

Vehicle accidents, slip and fall, property damages, malpractice claims against doctors and attorneys

Real Estate

Border disputes, real estate litigation, fighting title, neighbor issues

Wills and Trusts

Estate plans, probate litigation, conservatorships, and guardianships

Social Security



Worker's Compensation


These are just examples of the legal areas we can help with. Even if you don’t see your legal issue listed here, we may be able help you—contact us today!

DISCLAIMER: Your use of the LRS does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and the ACBA, the LRS, or the attorneys to whom you are referred unless you retain that attorney’s services. However, your communications, whether by phone or email, are confidential.

State Bar Certified LRS
ABA LRIS Approval

A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau

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