In today’s interconnected world, a person may find that they need legal representation from lawyers located in different states. Hiring a lawyer from another state is indeed possible. Or having a lawyer licensed in California represent a client in a case in another state is also possible. If a citizen of California has been sued in another state, they may prefer their California-licensed lawyer to represent them in the other state and that is possible.
A lawyer consultation with a California lawyer would help a person understand when and why they would want to be represented by a California lawyer who is both willing and able to handle an out-of-state case.
When Do I Need an Out-of-State Lawyer?
Hiring a lawyer from another state may be advantageous in some circumstances. An out-of-state lawyer may have individualized knowledge and experience that is not available in the local California legal market. This would not happen often, but it is possible. A person may want to talk to a California lawyer about how to choose an attorney who practices mostly in another state.
If a person is sued in another state in a case that involves exclusively the law of that other state, a person would be well-advised to be represented by a lawyer who is licensed in the other state. Not only would the lawyer be more familiar with the state’s law, but they would know the court system and possibly the judges who might preside in the person’s case. This local knowledge could be critical to success in the case.
Additionally, in an exceptionally complex case that may involve multi-state or federal laws, a lawyer familiar with those laws might represent a party to the case more effectively. That lawyer may be one who is licensed in another state.
Again, if an individual person has to sue another party in a different state, e.g., because they were injured in an accident in the other state by a party who resides in the other state, they would probably want to be represented by an attorney in that state. Or a person may have been charged with a crime in another state while they were on vacation there. There are many situations in which a California citizen might need to hire different types of lawyers in another state.
How Do I Hire an Out-of-State Attorney?
Hiring out-of-state lawyers is about the same as hiring an in-state lawyer, but it usually must be done from a distance. A person could start with LegalMatch.com and simply request their initial case review from a lawyer in the out-of-state location in which they need their lawyer to work. It would be important to find a lawyer who lives in the right city as well as the state in which the case is pending.
Again, an individual could also seek referrals from colleagues, friends or other lawyers whom they may know. They could access legitimate lawyer referral services on the websites of the state bar association for the state in which they need a lawyer. All states have a state bar association and they include links to referral services for lawyers.
An individual would contact a lawyer or lawyers, explain their issue, and discuss with the lawyer whether they have the experience needed and are willing to work with an out-of-state client.
Of course, a person might need an out-of-state lawyer for a variety of reasons. The case might involve a paternity test in a different state, out-of-state divorce questions, or an arrest warrant in another state. The need to be represented by a lawyer licensed in another state can arise for many different reasons.
How Much Will an Out-of-State Lawyer Cost?
Of course, one of the items a potential client should ask a lawyer is what their legal fees are. Lawyers generally charge in one of three ways, i.e., an hourly fee, a flat fee, or a contingency fee.
Before agreeing on representation, a client wants to know specifically what type of fee they will be charged and how they would be billed for the fee. Preferably, a client wants to get fee and billing information in a written agreement signed by both client and lawyer.
The specific amounts that a lawyer charges are going to depend on the local market in which they mostly practice. A person who lives in a rural area of California may be surprised at the fees charged by a lawyer in New York City or Miami Beach, Florida.
Lawyers who practice in large cities are going to charge higher fees than those charged by lawyers in the rural areas of California. They may need to be prepared for this and want to do some investigation of the local market in the out-of-state city in which they need to hire a lawyer.
Will There Be Any Additional Costs When Hiring a California Lawyer From Another State?
There could be travel costs if either the client or the lawyer has to travel to or from California in connection with the case. But given the availability of online platforms and telephone communication, the need to travel should be minimal.
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What Is Required of Out-of-State Lawyers?
A person should expect the same high quality of representation from their out-of-state lawyer that they would expect from their in-state lawyer. Most people want a lawyer who is responsive and communicates regularly about the status of their case. They want to feel that their lawyer is giving their case the attention it requires if it is being handled competently.
How Will I Communicate With My Out-of-State Lawyer?
A person would communicate with their out-of-state lawyer in all of the ways in which they communicate with their in-state lawyer. They can meet and talk via digital platforms through which people can meet virtually “in person.” They can communicate via email, text messages, and through phone calls.
Can a California Lawyer Represent You in Another State?
Generally, if a lawyer licensed in one state practices law in another, they are engaging in the practice of law without a license, which is illegal. A lawyer who is licensed to practice in California would be able to represent a Californian in another state legally in two situations.
They could get licensed in another state, but this would require a long and burdensome process. They would have to take the bar exam in another state. The bar exam is the test that aspiring lawyers must take and pass in order to get a license to practice in a state. Most states only offer the bar exam twice a year, and then a person who takes the test must wait, sometimes for months, to get the results.
A faster and easier way to practice in another state is to get authorized to appear in courts in the state pro hac vice. In almost all states in the U.S., a lawyer who practices pro hac vice must have a lawyer who is fully licensed in that state acting as co-counsel in the case in which they appear.
Almost every state allows attorneys licensed in other states to practice without pro hac vice admission in 3 situations. The fee for admission may be waived in one additional situation. First, lawyers who work for the federal government are routinely exempted from the necessity of meeting pro hac vice admission requirements in the states in which they work.
Most states also exempt attorneys who work as general counsel for private businesses from the pro hac vice requirement. General counsel, or “in-house counsel” as they are called, are usually employed by a business to handle their legal issues or supervise other lawyers who might be hired on occasion. They have to submit an application to be recognized as in-house counsel and avoid the need to obtain a license in the state in which they may work.
Finally, judges who preside in a complex case that may involve many cases that have been consolidated in one court may waive the requirement for pro hac vice qualification for the lawyers involved in order to enable the case to proceed efficiently. Most states make attorneys who represent indigent clients without charge get pro hac vice admission, but they may waive the associated fee if asked.
How Will My Out-of-State Lawyer Evaluate My Case and Prepare a Strategy?
Again, an individual who hires an out-of-state lawyer is going to work with their lawyer in much the same way as they would with an in-state lawyer. They would prepare for their initial lawyer appointment in the same manner, and then meet with their lawyer and clearly explain to them why they need a lawyer and what they need them to do.
Their lawyer is going to talk to their client and possibly talk to others, including potential expert advisers who may help an attorney evaluate a case and develop a strategy.
A client may need to provide their lawyer with documents that are important to a case, e.g., a copy of a prenuptial agreement in a divorce case. A lawyer is going to ask for all of the information they need to understand a case thoroughly and their client should do their best to provide them with what they ask to see. A client may then ask their lawyer to explain to them what their strategy is going to be in their case.
Should I Discuss My Out-of-State Case With a California Lawyer?
If you have a legal issue in another state, you want to talk to a California lawyer. LegalMatch.com can connect you to a lawyer who can review your issue and help you figure out whether a California lawyer with pro hac vice would best serve you or whether you want to hire an out-of-state lawyer. If you need an out-of-state lawyer, LegalMatch.com is the ideal way to find a qualified lawyer to provide the representation you need in the place where you need it.
