Frequently Asked Questions

Who will I talk to when I call?
You will talk to an Illinois attorney. If you leave a message or send an email, an Illinois attorney will call you back, usually right away and always within 24 hours. You will get legal guidance from a licensed attorney every time.

The attorney you talk to will not be the attorney who takes your case. Our job is to refer you to an experienced attorney who we think is right for you. It’s up to you whether you follow our recommendation.

How much does it cost?
Our service is completely free. It costs you nothing, no matter how long we spend talking to you. We always try to explain things in plain English. Whether you have a question about Illinois law, need an attorney or just need some guidance, we aren’t satisfied until you understand your options and know what to do next.

Is this a place to find a free Illinois lawyer?
No. While we will talk to anyone for free and answer any legal questions that we can, the lawyers we recommend will charge their customary rates if you choose to hire them. Some work on a contingency basis which means that they only get paid if they win. Others get paid by the hour or take cases on a flat fee basis. We always try to recommend a lawyer that fits your needs including financial. Usually we can do that, but certainly not always.

What if you don’t know an attorney who can take my case?
We know attorneys throughout the state, in every county and almost every area of law. If for some reason we don’t know an attorney who is a good fit for you, we’ll try to find one. We will use our contacts and our experience to find you an excellent Illinois attorney. If your case has been turned down by an attorney, or several, you may not know why. Often, people aren’t given a straight answer. Give us a call, and we’ll try our best to explain it in terms that make sense.

Don’t lawyers always recommend hiring a lawyer?
Some do. We don’t. We listen to your entire situation before giving any legal guidance, including whether you need an attorney. If we don’t think you need a lawyer, we’ll tell you. Sometimes we may not be sure, and we’ll tell you that too. However, many attorneys don’t charge a fee for an initial consultation, so we may suggest sitting down with an attorney before deciding you don’t need one.

How do you choose the lawyers you recommend?
They are attorneys we have worked with, attorneys we know and attorneys we have sought out because of their reputation, experience or past success. We never randomly give you the name of an attorney. Our referrals are always based on your specific needs and the faith we have in the attorneys within our network. We typically don’t recommend a lawyer that has less than five years of experience (usually ten or more) or an attorney that has had any ethical violations against them. We also try to recommend attorneys that are fairly niche in what they do as compared to “jack of all trades” attorneys that attempt to handle every case that comes through the door. When we recommend a lawyer they have to be someone we personally know who has a track record of success.

My cousin is a lawyer. Shouldn’t I just have him represent me?
If your cousin has years of experience in exactly the type of case you have, and if he has a track record of success in those cases, then perhaps. If not, we’ll find you someone who does. Hiring a lawyer with these qualifications does not guarantee success, but we believe it will give you an advantage.

Too often, we get calls from people who decided to represent themselves and failed to get a good outcome. They call to ask us what they can do, and many times it’s too late. We have seen time and time again that hiring an attorney can make all the difference.

Your contact form is asking for some personal information. Do you share that with anyone?
No. Feel free to tell us whatever you are comfortable with, but we promise that we will not share your contact information with anyone other than an attorney involved in your case. Everything you discuss with us will be confidential.

If I just have a question and don’t need a lawyer can I still contact you?
Of course.