Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

Need Pro Bono Lawyer

A friend of mine was recently charged with 3rd degree murder. because his family does not have the money for a lawyer he is being represented by a public defender. I am trying to find a pro bono lawyer to take his case. He is 18 years old and at the time of the crime was severely addicted to drugs. If anyone knows of A lawyer willing to take his case please respond. He is in Elk county jail in pa awaiting trial. I was denied bail. And the police made many mistakes when taking him into custody. This has been documented and his grandfather is in possession of the papers. As i said i need to find a pro bono lawyer and need help doing so.


Asked on 1/08/09, 8:53 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys

Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: Need Pro Bono Lawyer

What do you do for a living? Would you do it for free for a stranger? Please!!

You will not find anyone to do a complicated homicide case for free. It's a lot of work, and a lot of long hours.

We all have to pay our bills like everyone else. We can't work for free. We have mortgages, student loans, utilities, etc., just everyone else. And just like everyone else, we don't work for free.

Your friend should stick with the public defender, who is experienced as an attorney at doing cases and trials, or you should save up some money and hire a private attorney.

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Answered on 1/09/09, 8:32 am
Daniel Cevallos Cevallos & Wong, LLP

Re: Need Pro Bono Lawyer

You will not find anyone volunteer to take this case pro bono. He should just stick with the Public Defender, or you should raise some money to retain private counsel.

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Answered on 1/08/09, 9:05 pm
John Davidson Law Office of John A. Davidson

Re: Need Pro Bono Lawyer

In Pennsylvania the Pennsylvania Supreme has held that a lawyer needs to be an experienced criminal attorney for murder trials.

Under Gideon a person charged with any crime that carries a penalty of more than 6 months in jail is entitled to a lawyer even if they can't afford one. That's why there are public defenders.

Pro bono lawyers do not handle criminal cases.

Now you think someone should work long hours and put them in jeopardy of a malpractice claim and do it for free. Not to mention passing up work that pays. How do you expect that lawyer to pay his bills?

I notice no where do you say your friend is innocent just that there were errors made in his arrest.

Yet you want a lawyer to work hard to get him off a a technicality and do it for free.

Would you come and work for me for free?

{John}

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Answered on 1/08/09, 10:16 pm


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