Loans for Legal Fees: The Complete Guide to Securing Legal Financing

Legal help isn’t cheap—and when you’re facing a stressful situation like a divorce, criminal charge, or civil dispute, coming up with the money to pay an attorney can feel impossible. Whether it’s a hefty retainer or mounting hourly fees, the cost adds up fast.

If you’re trying to figure out how to afford a lawyer with limited funds, you’re not alone. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most realistic options. We’ll also explain how legal loans actually work (spoiler: most are really just personal loans) and how to qualify if you decide to go that route.

Table of Contents

1. How to pay for a lawyer with no money
   1. What is a legal loan?
2. The best personal loans for legal fees
   1. SoFi
   2. Upgrade
   3. LendingTree
   4. Upstart
3. How do you qualify for legal fee financing?
4. How much should you borrow?
   1. How legal fees work
5. Should you use a personal loan for legal fees?
6. Alternative
7. How we rated the best personal loans for legal fees

How to pay for a lawyer with no money

Hiring a lawyer can be expensive—and legal bills often come due at the worst possible time. If you need legal help but don’t have the money upfront, you’re not alone. The good news? You have options.

1. Start by asking your attorney about a payment plan

Before taking out a loan, check whether your lawyer offers an installment plan. Many attorneys—especially those handling family law, criminal defense, or estate matters—allow clients to pay their fees over time. These plans often come interest-free, making them one of the most affordable ways to manage legal costs. Not all lawyers will offer this, but it never hurts to ask.

2. Consider a personal loan if you need more support

If a payment plan isn’t available—or won’t cover everything—a personal loan can be a practical way to finance legal expenses. With a personal loan, you borrow a lump sum and repay it over time in fixed monthly installments. These loans are usually unsecured, so you don’t need to put up collateral, and many lenders offer fast funding, sometimes within 24 hours of approval.

What is a legal loan?

There’s no separate product category called a “legal loan.” In most cases, a legal loan is simply a personal loan used to pay for legal fees. You can use the funds to cover attorney retainers, hourly charges, court filing fees, expert witness costs, or other related expenses.

Here’s how it works:

• You apply for a personal loan through a bank, credit union, or online lender.
• If approved, the lender deposits the funds into your bank account.
• You use that money to pay your attorney or legal bills.
• You repay the loan over time, usually in fixed monthly payments over two to seven years.

There are other ways to pay for legal help—such as lawsuit loans, home equity borrowing, or credit cards. These alternatives tend to carry more risk or higher costs and aren’t usually the first choice. We’ll cover them in more detail later in the article.

Because personal loans are so widely available—and don’t require home equity or a legal settlement—they’re often the best financing option for most people who need help covering legal costs.

The best personal loans for legal fees

We reviewed a range of personal loan lenders to find options that are particularly well-suited for covering legal expenses. Our evaluation considered factors such as interest rates, loan amounts, funding speed, repayment terms, and borrower eligibility—including options for poor or limited credit.

SoFi

Best for Same-Day Funding

5.0 _/5

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Why we picked it

SoFi personal loans are suited to borrowers with good to excellent credit who need more significant amounts for legal fees. It’s possible to get a loan of up to $100,000 through SoFi, with funding as fast as the same day you’re approved. 

Borrowers can extend repayment terms from two to seven years, giving you plenty of time to pay off a legal loan if needed. There are no fees required and no costs for paying your loan off early.

You can check your rates and get a quote in as little as 60 seconds without affecting your credit scores. SoFi personal loan rates are fixed, offering predictability when budgeting for monthly payments. You can also reduce your rate by 0.25% when you enroll in autopay. 

• Fast, easy application: Get a decision in minutes
• Loan amounts: $5,000 – $100,000

Upgrade

Best for Direct Payments to Third Parties

4.9 _/5

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Why we picked it

Upgrade could suit borrowers seeking legal loans for bad credit or fair credit. The minimum credit score required hovers around 560, which may appeal to those building or rebuilding credit. You may also consider Upgrade loans for legal fees if you need to borrow a smaller amount of money. 

Regarding the cost, Upgrade’s maximum loan APR is higher, but that’s typical of personal loans for bad credit. Upgrade also charges an origination fee, which can add to your cost of borrowing. This fee is deducted from your loan proceeds, which is critical to remember when choosing a loan amount. 

As with other legal loan options, you can check your rates first to see what kind of APR you might qualify for. Checking rates won’t affect your credit. If you decide to move ahead with an Upgrade personal loan for legal fees, it’s possible to get funding as soon as the day after approval. 

• Credit health tool to monitor your credit score and get personalized recommendations
• Loan amounts: $1,000 – $50,000
• 15-day grace period before late fee is assessed

LendingTree

Largest Selection of Lenders

4.8 _/5

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Why we picked it

LendingTree isn’t a lender; it’s a free online marketplace that connects you with multiple lenders in minutes, making it easier to compare options when you need to borrow money for legal fees.

With access to more than 300 personal loan providers, LendingTree offers a wide range of rates, terms, and approval criteria, helping you find a loan that fits your situation.

What makes LendingTree especially useful for legal loan shopping is how fast you can see prequalified offers side-by-side. You fill out one simple form, undergo a soft credit pull that won’t affect your score, and within minutes, you could be matched with up to five lenders.

Since legal costs can vary significantly based on your case and attorney, comparison shopping within a marketplace can help you borrow the amount you need without overpaying in interest. Most lenders in LendingTree’s network offer fixed-rate loans, flexible terms between one and seven years, and funding as fast as the same day.

Because you’ll work directly with your chosen lender after comparing offers, repayment policies and cosigner rules vary. Be sure to review the fine print before you apply.

• Compare multiple lenders in one place
• No fees to use the platform
• Loan amounts up to $50,000
• Terms from 12 to 84 months
• Soft credit pull for rate shopping

Upstart

Best Legal Loans for Bad Credit

4.8 _/5

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Powered By LendingTree

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Why we picked it

Upstart offers personal loans with fixed interest rates. You can borrow as little as $1,000 or up to $75,000 to pay attorney’s fees or other legal costs. Upstart offers three- and five-year repayment terms. 

Similar to Upgrade, Upstart charges origination fees between 9% and 12% depending on how much you borrow and your overall creditworthiness. Getting approved with little credit history is possible, but a higher score can help you lock in the best rates. You can check your rates without affecting your credit score.

One factor that differentiates Upstart from other lenders is how it approaches loan approvals. Its lending model considers education, employment, and other variables when determining eligibility. This model leads to 27% more approvals and 16% lower rates than traditional models.

• Uses artificial intelligence to provide competitive rates based on unique creditworthiness
• Checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
• Loan amounts: $1,000 – $50,000

How do you qualify for legal fee financing?

Qualifying for a personal loan to pay legal fees depends on the same factors lenders use to evaluate any unsecured loan application. While the exact criteria can vary by lender, here are the most common requirements:

Requirement	Minimum
Credit score	Some lenders accept scores as low as 580, though higher scores get better rates
Citizenship	Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or apply with a cosigner who is
Debt-to-income (DTI)	Generally preferred to be below 36%, though some lenders allow higher with strong credit

Lenders may also evaluate your employment status, income stability, and whether you have any recent bankruptcies or delinquencies on your record. Some lenders will ask how you plan to use the funds, and while most allow legal expenses, it’s always best to check before applying.

How much should you borrow?

The amount you can borrow with legal loans will depend on the lender. As you can see from the lending options we profiled, the minimum loan amount can range from $1,000 to $5,000. The maximum, meanwhile, may run from $50,000 to $100,000. 

It’s essential to choose the right loan amount for your needs. Borrow too little, and you may need additional loans to cover legal fees. Borrow too much, and you’ll pay interest on money you didn’t need. 

Shopping around for the best personal loan lenders and rates can give you a better idea of what’s available and how much you could borrow with different loans. 

How legal fees work

You can use loans for legal fees to pay various costs. Understanding the different legal fees you may encounter can give you a better idea of how much you might need to borrow. 

Fee type	Why and when do you pay?	What it costs
Retainer	Upfront before work begins to secure an attorney’s services; may include a specified number of hours	$2,000 – $100,000
Hourly	Monthly to cover hours spent working on your case that exceed hours covered in retainer	$100 – $300
Litigation	At lawsuit conclusion to cover court and document fees	Varies by location
Contingency	If you win your lawsuit, you pay a percentage of the sum awarded	30%

The figures listed here are ranges only. The amount you’ll pay for legal fees depends on your location, the attorney’s experience and reputation, and the work required to resolve your case. 

Should you use a personal loan for legal fees?

Legal loans can provide financial relief if you need to hire an attorney. When considering a personal loan for legal fees, it helps to ask yourself the right questions: 

• How much do I need to borrow?
• What interest rates am I likely to qualify for?
• What kind of monthly payment is affordable for my budget?

It’s also important to look at the available loan options to evaluate which best suits your needs. Considering minimum and maximum loan amounts, repayment terms, interest rate ranges, and fees is helpful. 

The type of case can make a difference when considering legal loans. For example, a legal settlement loan could make sense if you expect to win your case and a large sum. Rather than monthly payments, you could use part of the settlement proceeds to pay the loan in full. 

Remember: Legal loans are debt, so you’ll have to repay them. Reviewing your budget can help you gauge what type of payment you can afford. Use a personal loan calculator to experiment with loan amounts, interest rates, and repayment terms to see how they affect payments. 

Alternative ways to afford a lawyer and legal fees

While personal loans are the most accessible and flexible option for covering legal expenses, they aren’t the only choice. If a personal loan isn’t right for you—or you’re exploring all your options—here are some alternatives to consider. Just keep in mind that these often come with added risk, limitations, or higher costs.

Lawsuit loans (pre-settlement funding)

If you’re pursuing a civil case—like a personal injury or discrimination lawsuit—you may qualify for a lawsuit loan, which is a cash advance against your expected settlement. You typically only repay the advance if you win the case, but these loans often come with very high fees and interest, sometimes equivalent to triple-digit APRs. They’re also limited to specific case types. Use caution and make sure you understand the terms before accepting one.

Home equity loans and HELOCs

If you own a home, you might be eligible for a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). These options often have lower interest rates than personal loans, but they also require putting your home up as collateral. That means if you fall behind on payments, you could risk foreclosure. We generally don’t recommend this option if you’re going through a divorce or legal separation, where homeownership and asset division could be in dispute.

Credit cards

If your attorney accepts them, you might be able to charge legal expenses to a credit card. This could make sense for small or short-term costs that you can pay off quickly. But credit cards often have high interest rates, and carrying a balance could make your legal fees even more expensive over time.

Pro bono or legal aid services

If you haven’t already, explore whether you qualify for free or reduced-cost legal services. Local nonprofits, legal aid organizations, and bar associations may be able to connect you with pro bono attorneys or clinics—especially if your case involves domestic violence, housing, immigration, or public benefits.

You can start your search at LawHelp.org or through your state’s legal aid network.

How we rated the best personal loans for legal fees

Since 2017, LendEDU has evaluated personal loan companies to help readers find the best personal loans. Our latest analysis reviewed 1,029 data points from 49 lenders and financial institutions, with 21 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.