Looking for an eviction lawyer in Fulton County, Georgia

October 16, 2011 2:17 PM

YANML: Can you recommend a lawyer with experience with eviction law in Atlanta, GA (Fulton County)?

I know you're not my lawyer- can you recommend someone who can be? I am only looking for someone I can pay to meet with me to provide me advice about an eviction case I am facing (as a renter, with complications) in Fulton County. This is not an eviction for failing to pay rent, or anything related to money (I understand that is a legal subspecialty).

I don't qualify for the legal aid organizations in the area. I recently graduated from school and don't make much, but I do make enough that I don't qualify for the free legal aid. I have never consulted an attorney before. I am hoping to spend $100-$200 for a 15-30min of advice. If it costs more, I will have to forego legal advice.

Any advice? Or suggestions of where to look? Googling "Atlanta eviction attorney" provides me dozens of options but no real way to choose (or guess if they are super-big-bucks or affordable for a recent student)

Thanks!

posted by anonymous to Law & Government (2 answers total)

IANAL. The State Bar of Georgia has a referral number about halfway down the page here - they ought to be able to point you in the right direction. I would start there rather than try to wade through Google results.

Anectdata: My wife and I consulted with an attorney once over a landlord's rather strange interpretation of a rental contract we had signed. He heard us out, read through the contract, told us that the other person was basically nuts and told us to come back to see him if it got serious. He did not charge us for this consultation and the matter basically ended afterwards. I'm not saying you can automatically expect a freebie, but in other matters where I've needed legal advice, it's gone something like this:

You go in, explain what's going on, and answer every question the lawyer asks of you. He or she will size it up, and if qualified to help, explain what your options might be. If they're not qualified, they are usually good about referring you to someone who is.

The options might be to write a letter, do some negotiations, etc. This is where you start getting charged, but the rates (hourly, in my experience) will be laid out in advance, at which point you can make a decision on whether to stay with this person/firm or not.

In one situation, I put down X amount into escrow which the attorney drew against as he did work. I had to replenish the fund only once and got the remaining balance back. Had the issue gone to court, things would have started getting pretty expensive for me. In another situation, what I was needing (wills/trust work), the rate was a fixed fee with the documentation and some courthouse filing as the deliverable at the end.
posted by jquinby at 3:04 PM on October 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

+1 jquinby, except usually you explain over the phone. Call several. You'll find out straight away if a consult fee is even necessary.
posted by jbenben at 3:57 PM on October 16, 2011