Lawyer Referral & Information Service
If you need a lawyer in Western New York, please click on “request a lawyer referral” below for an online referral request form or call the Bar Association of Erie County’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service directly at 716.852.3100. Our Lawyer Referral & Information Service is a public service of the Bar Association, serving all of Western New York. In 2019, we referred approximately 13,000 calls. Can’t afford a lawyer? Please click on “Greater Buffalo Legal Services Map” for a map of legal non profits and resources in the area.
About the LRIS
Bar Association-sponsored lawyer referral services have been in operation in this country for more than fifty years, and were first established in response to requests by people for assistance in obtaining appropriate legal counsel.
The Lawyer Referral and Information Service of the Bar Association of Erie County is designed to assist persons who are able to pay normal attorney fees but whose ability to locate appropriate legal representation is frustrated by a lack of experience with the legal system, a lack of information about the type of service needed, or a fear of the potential costs of seeing a lawyer.
LRIS offers two important services to the public:
- Help the client determine if the problem is truly of a legal nature by screening inquiries and referring the client to other service agencies when appropriate.
- Provide the client with an unbiased referral to an attorney who has experience in the area of law appropriate to the client’s need.
How It Works
When calling the LRIS, you will speak with a Referral Specialist who is experienced in analyzing potential legal problems like yours. LRIS staff members are NOT attorneys and, therefore, cannot provide legal advice. However, they are very experienced in determining whether your situation requires the services of an attorney or if another type of assistance better suits your needs.
Please be advised that this service does NOT take walk-ins at the Bar Association of Erie County offices. To reach the LRIS, it is a phone service or web submission, only.
Our LRIS staff members are available to take your telephone call between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, excluding holidays.
You can also submit an attorney referral request online, by clicking the “Request a Lawyer Referral” button below. If you submit a request online, we will respond as quickly as possible.
If a lawyer’s help is needed, you will be given the name and telephone number of a licensed, insured, and experienced lawyer who can help you. The type of legal issue you have, along with your geographic location, will be taken into consideration so that the most appropriate and convenient referral is made.
You will receive a 30 minute consultation for $20 for the purpose of potentially hiring legal representation. If you hire the attorney, fee arrangements are made between you (the client) and your attorney.
All communication is held in the strictest confidence. You are under no obligation to retain the attorney to whom you are referred.
If you are an attorney and would like to join the LRIS, please click the “Apply to our Attorney Panel” below to download and fill out the application
