How to find a class action lawyer

Many people searching for a class action lawyer do not need one. It depends on where the case is:

Once a class is certified, the court appoints class counsel to represent everyone in it. Rule 23(c)(2)(B) requires the class notice to tell members they may enter an appearance through their own attorney if they wish, but that is optional and at your own expense. See how to join a class action lawsuit and rights of a class member.

1. Court dockets for similar cases. Every federal case lists the attorneys for each side. Search PACER (the federal courts' official system) or the free CourtListener archive for cases against the same company or under the same law. PACER charges $0.10 per page, capped at $3 per document, and waives fees for anyone who spends $30 or less in a quarter. Firms that appear repeatedly on cases like yours have relevant experience.

2. Settlement notices. Every class settlement notice names class counsel with contact information. If a lawyer recently won a settlement over a similar fee or product, that firm knows the law and the defendants. Our settlements pages list the case name for each one.

3. Lawsuit pages and investigations. Firms often announce that they are investigating claims before filing. See what a lawsuit investigation means, and browse lawsuits attorneys are investigating or pursuing.

4. Your state bar's lawyer referral service. Most state and many county bar associations run referral services that can match you with lawyers by practice area.

5. A free case review. Our free case review takes about two minutes and connects you with independent attorneys who handle these cases.

Class action lawyers almost always work on contingency: they advance the costs and are paid only if the case recovers money. In a class case, the fee is not simply what the lawyer and client agree to. Under Rule 23(h), the court must approve any attorney's fee award in a certified class action, and class members may object to the fee request. Fees are commonly calculated as a percentage of the common fund or based on hours worked, and judges often reduce requests they find excessive.

For settlements that pay in coupons, federal law adds a limit. Under 28 U.S.C. 1712, the part of a fee attributable to coupons must be based on the value of the coupons actually redeemed, not their face value. For details, see who pays lawyers in a class action.

If you hire a lawyer for an individual case, such as an injury claim or an opt-out lawsuit, you will sign your own contingency agreement. Read it closely: it should state the percentage, whether it changes if the case goes to trial, and how case costs are handled.

1. Have you filed cases like mine? Ask for case names you can look up on a docket.
2. Is this a class action, an individual case, or part of an MDL? The answer changes your role and your recovery. See class action vs. mass tort.
3. What would you need from me? Documents, a deposition, or serving as a lead plaintiff?
4. How are fees and costs handled if we lose?
5. Is there an arbitration clause problem? A good lawyer will ask for your contract early.
6. What is my deadline? Ask how the statute of limitations applies to you.
7. Who will be my contact, and how often will I hear from you?

If the lawyer seeks appointment as class counsel, Rule 23(g) requires the court to consider their class action experience, knowledge of the law, the work done investigating the claims, and the resources they will commit. Those are good questions for you to ask too.

• Upfront fees to "join" a class action. In a class case, fees come from the recovery under Rule 23(h), not from you. You never pay to be part of a class, and a real settlement administrator never charges to process a claim. See class action settlement scams.
• Promised dollar amounts. No lawyer can promise what a case will pay.
• Pressure to sign immediately, especially before you have read the agreement.
• Requests for bank logins or full card numbers at first contact.
• No verifiable license or a name that does not match the state bar record.

Also be careful with anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Lawyer solicitation is regulated by state bar rules, and unexpected calls or texts claiming you are owed money from a lawsuit are a common scam pattern.

Lawyers can evaluate a claim quickly if you bring the right material:

• A one-page timeline of what happened, with dates.
• Receipts, statements, or order confirmations showing the charge or purchase.
• Any notice from the company, such as a breach letter, recall notice, or settlement notice.
• The contract or terms of service.
• Medical records, if you were hurt.
• Screenshots of ads, labels, or messages.

Check the dates first: federal wage claims under the FLSA must be filed within two years, or three for willful violations, and other claims have their own deadlines. For what happens after you find a lawyer, see how to start a class action lawsuit and how long class actions take.