ABA Family Legal Guide

When and How to Use a Lawyer

1.1 Lawyer Basics

What Is a Lawyer?

If I have a legal problem, may I hire someone other than a lawyer?

In some specialized situations, such as bringing a complaint before a government agency (for example, a dispute over Social Security or Medicare benefits), nonlawyers or paralegals may be qualified to represent you. (Paralegals are nonlawyers who have received training that enables them to assist lawyers in a number of tasks; they typically cannot represent clients in court, but they can sometimes represent clients in proceedings at a government agency.) If you are in this situation, ask the government agency involved to let you know what types of legal representatives are acceptable.