The State Bar of Montana offers a free, non-profit, Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) for the community. It's an outstanding resource when you feel you need an attorney but you're not sure whom to turn to. Each year, LRIS staff handles thousands of calls from people across the country looking for a Montana lawyer.  If you need legal help, you'll be referred to an appropriate Montana attorney for your issues.  To participate in the Lawyer Referral Service, the attorneys must be active members of the State Bar of Montana, in good standing, and carry liability insurance.

Lawyer Referral Service attorneys agree to charge referred clients a reasonable fee for their service.  For more information about How Lawyers Set Their Fees, check out this linked article.  The Lawyer Referral Service does not provide referrals to pro bono or low income attorneys.

Sometimes after talking with LRIS staff, people discover that they don't need an attorney after all. Since dealing with the law entails many difficult and technical issues, LRIS staff attempts to assist callers with information and other legal resources in addition to the referral to qualified attorneys.  Here's a great list of legal providers and options for information or assistance.  Many of these sites are specific to certain areas of law or have income restrictions and some of them are statewide while others only provide assistance in their county.  That being said, there are often alternatives to hiring an attorney, so check out this guide to Montana Legal Resources.

The State Bar offers a series of free brochures. They are designed to help the public answer the most common legal questions related to subjects like Divorce in Montana, Small Claims Court, When You Need Lawyer and other subjects. The brochures are available at various public service agencies, Montana courthouses and at the State Bar's offices in Helena. Some of that information as well as links to legal research and information sites can be found on our Self Help Law page titled Law School for Montana Citizens.

How do I get a referral?

The Lawyer Referral Service is a free, non-profit, public service of the State Bar of Montana. Our hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.and referrals are available by calling (406) 449-6577 during those hours or on our website 24/7.  (For an online referral, follow this link: I Want to Hire a Lawyer.)  When you call the LRIS, you'll be asked to give a brief description of your legal issue and what it is you want an attorney to do for you.  We may ask questions to determine how we can best help you, but this is a CONFIDENTIAL service, so you can rest assured that your call will not be recorded or information disclosed beyond your phone conversation. Based on the information you provide, you may be given the contact information for other available legal resources in place of, or in addition to, the referrals.    If you do need a lawyer, you will be given up to three names and telephone numbers of attorneys who accept cases in the area of law covering your issue.  Before calling the attorney, you may want to review these answers to Common Questions About Hiring an Attorney.

What if I can't afford an attorney?

All Lawyer Referral Service attorneys are private lawyers who will arrange their fee with you based on the issues and complexity of your case. If you cannot afford to pay an attorney's regular fees, contact your local Montana Legal Services office or other resource available on our list of Montana Legal Resources.

Are LRIS attorneys qualified?

To participate in the LRIS, the attorneys must be active members of the State Bar of Montana in good standing and are required to carry liability insurance. Attorneys choose their areas of practice for which they will accept cases. A referral to an attorney who has indicated his or her willingness to accept cases in a particular area of law, however, does not mean LRIS, the State Bar of Montana, or any other agency, board or committee has certified said attorney as a specialist or expert in the indicated field of law.  All callers must make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered.