Help & User Guide

How It Works: An Overview

Attorneys On The Spot is designed to seamlessly connect law firms needing court coverage with qualified appearance attorneys. The process is simple, efficient, and transparent for all parties involved.

1. Post a Request

A law firm submits a detailed request for an appearance, including case details, date, time, and location.

2. Get Assigned

Our system or an administrator assigns a vetted appearance attorney to the request.

3. Appearance Covered

The attorney handles the court appearance and reports back. The case is covered, and the law firm can focus on other work.

Guide for Law Firms

  1. Registration: Create a 'Law Firm' account. Fill in your firm's name and contact details.
  2. Request an Appearance: Click the "Request Appearance" button on your dashboard. Fill out the form with as much detail as possible, including county, court, case type, hearing details, and any relevant documents.
  3. Monitor Your Requests: On your "My Requests" dashboard, you can see the status of all your submissions. The assigned attorney's name will appear once they are assigned.
  4. Notifications: You will receive notifications when an attorney is assigned and when they accept the job.
  5. Cancellation: If a hearing is vacated, you can cancel your request from the "My Requests" view, provided it has not been completed. Please provide a reason for the cancellation.

Guide for Appearance Attorneys

  1. Registration: Create an 'Appearance Attorney' account. Be sure to provide your first name, last name, and state bar number. Uploading a resume is recommended.
  2. Find Jobs: Navigate to the "Available Jobs" view on your dashboard to see all pending requests that need coverage.
  3. Accept Assignments: If you are directly assigned a case by an admin, it will appear in your "My Assignments" view. You must either 'Accept' or 'Reject' it.
  4. Review Details: Once you accept a job, carefully review all case details and download any provided documents to prepare for the hearing.
  5. Communication: The contact number of the requesting law firm is available for communication purposes if needed.
  6. After the Hearing: Once the appearance is complete, an administrator will mark the job as 'Completed'.

Understanding the Request Flow

Each request moves through several statuses. Here’s what they mean:

  • Pending: The request has been submitted by the law firm and is visible to attorneys and admins. It is waiting to be assigned.
  • Pending Acceptance: An admin has assigned the request to a specific attorney. The attorney must now accept or reject the assignment.
  • Assigned / In Progress: The attorney has accepted the assignment and is responsible for the appearance.
  • Completed: The appearance has been successfully completed.
  • Cancelled: The law firm has cancelled the request before completion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What happens if an attorney rejects an assignment?

If an attorney rejects an assignment, the request status returns to 'Pending'. An administrator will then assign it to a different attorney.

How are attorneys vetted?

All appearance attorneys are required to provide their state bar number upon registration. Our administrative team verifies that they are in good standing with the State Bar before they can accept any assignments.

Where can I see the rates for appearances?

You can view a full list of our competitive rates on the Services & Rates page.

I forgot my password. What do I do?

Currently, a password reset feature is not available. Please contact an administrator through the Contact Us page for assistance.