Asking Questions of Real Live Lawyers!

All of my previous posts in this vein have been about trying to get answers to your legal questions without actually talking to someone in person. You may find that you get better answers if you can ask more specific questions. A good way to come up with a specific question is to listen to an expert talk about the subject you're interested in, and use that information to your advantage.

Often you can find lectures on a subject that interests you by talking to local civic organizations or non-profits, who are often in touch with attorneys. In addition, towns and churches will sometimes sponsor events. Even businesses, such as financial planners, may have those resources available to you from time to time. Once you listen to these people speak, you can ask them a question, and perhaps they can give you an answer that will help.

Again, as with any of the methods I've been talking about, it's not out of the ordinary to get only half an answer to your question. I would definitely expect to hear one of these "Well, you're not a client yet...so maybe we can finish this conversation at a consultation in my office." That may not be worth it to you, but sometimes lawyers will offer such consultations for free, in which case, there's really nothing to lose. More on this subject tomorrow.