Victims generally do not need to hire an attorney unless they have issues outside the scope of criminal prosecution, such as divorce proceedings, child custody, division of property, or a civil lawsuit. Victims may be able to sue the criminal defendant in civil court. The DA’s Office does not represent individual victims.

Finding an Attorney

There are many ways to find a private attorney. If you feel comfortable discussing your situation with friends or family, you can ask them for names of attorneys they know or may have worked with in the past. You can search for civil attorneys online. You may also contact the Oregon Bar Association Referral Service at (503) 648-3763.

If you have limited income, you may qualify for one of the programs listed below.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (503) 224-4086
Oregon Law Center (503) 224-2414
St. Andrew’s Legal Clinic (503) 281-1500
Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service (800) 452-7636