Start looking for a lawyer. Yes, there are lawyers out there who are Pagan, but that isn't necessarily what you should be looking for. What you want is a good lawyer, whether he/she is Pagan or not.
"What you want," says Eilers, "is a lawyer with expertise in the area of law you are dealing with. Preferably, you want someone who practices in your county."
In other words, if yours is a custody case, a tax attorney is not what you need. And hiring a local lawyer does not only save you travel expenses, a local lawyer knows the local scene best. He/she knows other attorneys and agencies that can be consulted and, more importantly, which judges are impartial and which are not.
There is much to consider when searching for and choosing a lawyer. The lawyer's experience and credentials, references, number of caseloads, location, fees, and even age, gender, and personality may impact your decision. But the bottom line is that you want someone experienced and who will treat you well, and who is willing to do the necessary research to learn about your type of Paganism. Be prepared to coherently answer questions about what you believe. You will probably have to present your attorney a list of resources regarding your non-mainstream spirituality.
Another thing to consider is money. Lawyers are expensive and most people probably don't have thousands of dollars lying around to give to one. Depending on the circumstances, you may not want to proceed with the case, but if you must, you may have to get creative to come up with ways to pay. Aside from credit and financing, you may have to get another job or go to friends, family, and the larger community.
Once you've found a lawyer, keep in mind that you hired him/her to provide you with a service. A good lawyer should stay in touch with you either personally or through his/her secretary. The importance of communication can't be stressed enough. Not only is it important for your lawyer to keep you informed about what's going on with your case, you also need to cooperate with your attorney. Return phone calls promptly and make yourself available for meetings. Be honest and, again, be prepared to answer some very difficult questions.
