Lawyers in Alabama

Finding a lawyer in Alabama

Alabama's largest concentration of law firms is in Birmingham, with sizable legal communities in Montgomery, the state capital, in Huntsville's fast-growing technology corridor, and in the port city of Mobile. Outside those centers, most of the state is served by small firms and solo practitioners who work in their own county courthouse. That local footing matters: a lawyer who appears every week in your county's Circuit or District Court knows its judges, clerks and unwritten habits.

This directory lists Alabama law firms by city and by practice area. Pick your city to see who practices nearby, or start with the type of problem you have. Each firm page lists contact information so you can get in touch yourself.

When you need a lawyer (and when you may not)

Talk to an Alabama attorney early if you have been arrested or charged, if you were injured in a wreck, at work or on someone else's property, if you are being sued or evicted, or if a divorce involves children, a home or retirement savings. Immigration matters that could affect your status also call for counsel. Alabama sets filing deadlines by statute, and some are short, so an early consultation protects your options.

You may not need a lawyer for a small money claim, which the small claims division of the District Court is designed to handle without attorneys, or for a routine traffic ticket or simple document. Many Alabama lawyers offer a free or low-cost first meeting, and that conversation is the easiest way to learn whether you can handle the matter yourself.

Common practice areas in Alabama

• Car Accident and Personal Injury — collision and trucking claims, falls and other negligence cases, resolved with insurers or filed in the Circuit Court.
• Family & Divorce — divorce, custody, child support and alimony in the Circuit Court.
• Criminal Defense — felonies in the Circuit Court, misdemeanors in District and Municipal Courts.
• DUI & DWI — Alabama uses the term DUI; a charge carries a criminal case and a separate license matter with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts and estate administration through the county Probate Court, which in Alabama also handles many other records.
• Real Estate — purchases, sales, title work and landlord-tenant disputes.
• Workers' Compensation — on-the-job injury claims, which in Alabama are handled through the courts rather than an administrative board.
• Employment — discrimination, wrongful termination and wage claims, largely under federal law.
• Immigration, Bankruptcy and Social Security Disability — federal matters with their own courts and appeals.
• Business — formation, contracts and disputes.

How to check a lawyer's license in Alabama

Every lawyer practicing in Alabama must be a member of the Alabama State Bar, a mandatory bar that operates under the Supreme Court of Alabama. The Bar's online member directory shows whether an attorney is active and in good standing, the year of admission and any public discipline.

Check that the status is active, that the name and office match the person you are dealing with, and that any disciplinary history has been explained. Complaints about a lawyer's conduct are handled by the Alabama State Bar's Office of General Counsel and decided through the Bar's disciplinary boards and commission.

How to choose a law firm

Choose a firm whose regular work matches your case and your county. A lawyer who handles injury cases in your Circuit Court every month knows the local judges and how juries there tend to view claims; a firm that mostly does business work may not. Ask who will be doing the work.

Talk about fees before you commit. Injury and workers' compensation lawyers typically work on contingency, taking their fee out of whatever is recovered. Divorce, criminal and business matters are more often hourly or flat-fee, frequently with a retainer. Get the fee agreement in writing and ask which expenses are billed separately.

Questions to ask at the first consultation

• How often do you appear before the judges who would hear my case?
• Which attorney will actually handle my file, and who covers when they are out?
• What is the range of likely results, and how long might the matter run?
• Is this a contingency, hourly or flat-fee matter, and what expenses are added?
• Is there a filing deadline I am close to, and what happens if it passes?
• How will you keep me informed, and how fast do you return calls?
• Are you an active member of the Alabama State Bar in good standing?

Free and low-cost legal help

Legal Services Alabama is the statewide civil legal aid program for residents with limited income, with offices across the state handling housing, family, benefits and consumer matters. The Alabama State Bar runs a lawyer referral service that connects callers with attorneys for a modest initial fee and coordinates volunteer lawyer programs in several regions. Law schools in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Montgomery operate clinics where supervised students represent clients. Anyone charged with a crime who cannot afford a lawyer has the right to appointed counsel or a public defender.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed Alabama attorney about your situation.