Black Lawyers
Barriers To and Importance Of Finding a Black Lawyer
Before discussing how to find a Black lawyer, it is important to discuss the current and historic representation of Black lawyers in the legal field. Additionally, it is important to note that much of the community has stated a preference for the term Black, as opposed to African American. That being said however, the term African American will be used when directly quoting sources that use the term, or when quoting a person who wishes to be identified as such.
Because of systemic racism and discrimination, amongst various other reasons, many Black people who are facing various legal issues often express a desire to hire a Black lawyer to represent them. This is largely due to the fact that other attorneys who represent the majority of the legal field may not have the same life experiences and compassion to draw upon when assisting their clients.
It is important to note that all clients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race. For this reason all attorneys must take an ethics course and test prior to becoming an attorney. However, non-Black lawyers run the risk of treating their Black clients according to their biases, intentional or not.
Once again, Black lawyers are underrepresented in the legal field. Historically and often times presently black attorneys will face implicit bias, blatant discrimination, and discordant treatment which directly impact and even stop any effort to increase diversity within the legal field. For the last decade, the percentage of Black attorneys has remained stagnant.
Hiring Black Lawyers
Through technology, it has become easier to find a Black lawyer
As previously mentioned, a Black person experiencing legal issues may prefer to work with a Black attorney for the reasons discussed. Hiring a Black attorney, regardless of the client’s own racial identity, shows a commitment to inclusion and representation. Hiring a Black attorney is just one way to support equity in the legal and justice systems.
Here are some basic suggestions to help you find an attorney for your case:
- Determine what type of lawyer you need, such as divorce, finance, criminal defense, employment, etc;
- Use LegalMatch to search for a lawyer;
- Ask for referrals from a friend or family member;
- Determine whether there are any local resources available to you for finding an attorney;
- Clarify with yourself what you are looking for in an attorney before you begin contacting prospective lawyers, such as what their fees are, their record of past successes, etc;
- Schedule an initial consultation with any attorneys that you feel will be a good fit; and
- Discuss your budget first, and ensure the attorney tells you about expected costs before taking action.
How LegalMatch Can Help Find a Black Attorney Near You
In terms of locating a Black attorney near you, LegalMatch has assisted millions of satisfied clients in the United States in finding the right lawyer for their legal problems. Because the decision making process is frequently further complicated by urgency or time constraints associated with legal issues, most people experience issues when determining a lawyer’s experience in a specific area of law. Other times, they may not have much time to meet and consult with each attorney individually.
LegalMatch is one of America’s original attorney-client matching engines, providing lawyers and potential clients with a chance to meet. When a potential client presents their legal issue to LegalMatch, our system matches their case to LegalMatch attorneys in their city or county. This is based on the specifics of the potential client’s case, as well as the lawyer’s location and area of legal practice.
Black attorneys may find LegalMatch services useful when attempting to connect to their community. The service can make it easier for potential clients to locate an attorney who understands the systemic barriers they face in obtaining a resolution to their legal issues.
