[Uehreka]

I always wonder this when people bring this up. Am I a weirdo for not having a lawyer on retainer at all times? That doesn’t sound like something that would be affordable for most people. And quite frankly, I don’t even know how I’d go about looking for or evaluating a lawyer.

[c22]

You don't need a lawyer on retainer, but it's probably good to know the phone number of one. If they can't take your case they will let you know and likely refer you to a colleague.

[madeofpalk]

I've never had to have any sort of interaction with the justice system and have never talked to a lawyer (even a friend or in a social setting). I thought I was a proper adult for having a regular accountant I talk to once a year.

How do I know the phone number to a good lawyer?

[Gargoyle]

I keep the business cards of a couple of lawyers in my wallet. One I've dealt with on business matters (but certainly isn't on retainer) and one I know socially who does criminal defense. As you say, I figure if they can't help me personally, they'll know someone who can.

[ivraatiems]

> And quite frankly, I don’t even know how I’d go about looking for or evaluating a lawyer.

You're not alone. Here's a great guide to getting an attorney for someone who's never done it: https://www.popehat.com/2011/05/27/how-to-cold-call-a-lawyer...

(I'm not Popehat and I get nothing for recommending him, but his work is excellent.)

[nateabele]

You're not a weirdo, but you would be a weirdo for not having, say, insurance (health/car/home/whatever). Unfortunately, the world is such that we're coming to the point where this just needs to be another item on the checklist.

People find the resources to cover the things they need, and lawyers aren't all crazy unaffordable.

[pmoriarty]

Speaking of insurance, is there something like legal insurance where you pay your monthly premiums or whatever and then when you finally need a lawyer, your insurance policy pays for one?

[IgorPartola]

Some employers provide this for about $5-15/month. It usually doesn’t cover everything, but it will cover routine stuff like wills, powers of attorney, real estate transactions, etc.