Skip to content

Legal advertising service. Not a law firm or a lawyer referral service.

InjuryClaimGuide
For firms
Back to Learning Center
Legal Guidance

How to find a personal injury lawyer in Houston

The main ways to find a personal injury lawyer in Houston, from the State Bar of Texas directory and State Bar referral services to advertising services, and how to check any lawyer yourself, with official sources as of October 2026.

8 min readPublished October 22, 2026Last updated October 22, 2026Edited by Joseph Budzinski, CTO, InjuryClaimGuide

The short answer

In Houston, the main ways to find a personal injury lawyer are the State Bar of Texas's public Find A Lawyer directory, a lawyer referral service the State Bar runs or certifies (its list includes one for Houston), and legal advertising services such as InjuryClaimGuide, which participating law firms pay to advertise. Whichever route you use, you can check the lawyer's Texas license and public disciplinary history on the State Bar's website and read the written fee agreement before you sign.

These routes are listed in no order of preference, and none is right for everyone. This guide is general informational guidance and is not legal advice; it does not apply the law to your situation.

Key facts (as of 2026-10-22)

  • Public directory. The State Bar of Texas Find A Lawyer directory can be searched by practice area, Texas county, languages spoken and fee options offered. The directory page says the directory is not a certified lawyer referral service.
  • State Bar referral line. The State Bar's Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) is at (800) 252-9690, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central, and its page says "Se habla Español." For Harris County, it sends callers to the State Bar's list of referral services, where the Houston entry is the Houston Lawyer Referral Service.
  • Local referral services. The State Bar certifies lawyer referral services operated by local bar associations and other nonprofit public service organizations. Its list includes the Houston Lawyer Referral Service, (713) 237-9429 or (800) 289-4577.
  • Fee agreements in writing. A contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and the client (Tex. Gov't Code §82.065(a)).
  • Solicitation. Texas law generally makes it an offense, with intent to obtain an economic benefit, to solicit employment in person, by telephone or through a social media direct message, or to offer a prospective client money or another benefit to obtain employment (Tex. Penal Code §38.12(a)).

What are the ways to find a personal injury lawyer in Houston?

Each of these routes works differently. You can use more than one.

The State Bar of Texas Find A Lawyer directory

Find A Lawyer is the State Bar's public directory of licensed Texas lawyers. You choose the search terms yourself, such as a practice area, Harris County or another Texas county, a language, and fee options such as contingency. Nobody chooses the results for you. The directory page says the directory is not a certified lawyer referral service, and that its information is provided "as is" with no warranty of any kind.

The State Bar's Lawyer Referral & Information Service

The State Bar runs a Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) by phone at (800) 252-9690 and through an online form. Its page says it serves over 246 Texas counties, and that if it does not serve your county it will refer you to a referral program the State Bar has certified that does. For Harris County, the page sends callers to the State Bar's list of the referral services it certifies, where the Houston entry is the Houston Lawyer Referral Service (below). The LRIS page also says its staff cannot give legal advice, and that a lawyer it refers provides a 30-minute consultation for no more than $20; after that, fees are set by agreement between you and the lawyer.

A local lawyer referral service on the State Bar's list

The State Bar certifies lawyer referral services operated by local bar associations and other nonprofit public service organizations, and publishes the list of those services (also in Spanish). As of October 22, 2026, the Houston entry is the Houston Lawyer Referral Service, (713) 237-9429 or (800) 289-4577, and the list also shows a statewide Texas Lawyer Referral Service at (888) 635-6050. Contact details change, so the State Bar's list is the place to confirm them.

Legal advertising services, including InjuryClaimGuide

Some websites are paid by participating law firms to advertise them to people looking for a lawyer. InjuryClaimGuide, the site you are reading, is one of them.

InjuryClaimGuide is a legal advertising service for personal injury matters in Texas, not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. Participating law firms pay InjuryClaimGuide to receive leads. InjuryClaimGuide is not affiliated with any state bar. Routing is based on geography, practice area, language, and firm capacity.

How it works, in practice:

  • If you choose to submit an intake, InjuryClaimGuide forwards your intake to participating firms you choose. Before you submit, the intake shows the participating firms that would receive your information.
  • Nothing is sent to any firm until you confirm your request from the verification email.
  • InjuryClaimGuide does not provide legal advice, does not rate or evaluate attorneys, does not evaluate your claim, and does not tell you which lawyer to hire.
  • InjuryClaimGuide's published terms for participating firms say a firm must label its first written contact with you "ADVERTISEMENT", in the subject line or the first sentence. That label comes from Texas Disciplinary Rule 7.03(d)(2), which generally requires a lawyer's solicitation communication to a prospective client to be plainly marked or clearly designated an "ADVERTISEMENT" (Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct).

Other advertising services and directories work in their own ways. Ask any service how it is paid and how it decides which lawyers you see.

How do I check a lawyer before I hire one?

Whichever route led you to a lawyer, the same checks apply:

  • License. Look up the individual lawyer, not only the firm name, in Find A Lawyer. The profile shows whether the lawyer is eligible to practice in Texas and when the lawyer was licensed. If someone says they are a lawyer and you cannot find them, ask for their bar card number. Texas Penal Code §38.122 makes it a crime to hold oneself out as a lawyer, for economic benefit, without a current license in good standing.
  • Discipline. The State Bar's Grievance and Ethics Information page points the public to Find A Lawyer to view a lawyer's disciplinary history. If the profile lists anything, you can ask the lawyer about it and decide for yourself how much it matters to you.
  • Questions. Ask who will handle your matter day to day, how you will be kept updated, and whether the lawyer has handled matters like yours in Harris County. The Houston guide to choosing a car accident lawyer has a longer list of questions.

How do contingent fees work in Texas?

Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingent fee: a fee that depends on the outcome of the matter. Texas sets ground rules for the agreement:

  • In writing and signed. A contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and the client (Tex. Gov't Code §82.065(a)).
  • How the fee is figured. Texas Disciplinary Rule 1.04(d) says the agreement must state the method by which the fee is determined. If the percentage differs depending on whether the matter is resolved without a trial, at trial or on appeal, the agreement must state each percentage, and it must state the litigation and other expenses to be deducted from any recovery and whether they are deducted before or after the fee is calculated.
  • At the end. When a contingent fee matter concludes, the lawyer must give the client a written statement describing the outcome and, if there is a recovery, showing the remittance to the client and how it was determined (Rule 1.04(d)).

You can ask to take the agreement home and read it before you sign. What Is a Contingency Fee gives a plain-language overview.

What are the red flags for barratry?

Barratry is the improper solicitation of legal clients, and Texas law prohibits it. Signs to watch for:

  • An approach you did not ask for. Someone you did not contact approaches you in person, by phone or through a social media direct message to sign you up with a lawyer (Tex. Penal Code §38.12(a)(2)).
  • An offer of money or a gift. Anyone offers you money, a gift or another benefit to hire a lawyer (§38.12(a)(3)).
  • Written contact within 30 days. Texas law generally makes it an offense for a lawyer, and certain other licensed professionals, to send someone who has not sought their services a written communication or solicitation about a personal injury or an accident before the 31st day after the accident (§38.12(d)(2)(A)).
  • Pressure. A lawyer may not send, or have someone else send, a communication that involves coercion, duress, overreaching, intimidation or undue influence (Disciplinary Rule 7.03(c)).

A contract for legal services procured through conduct that violates Penal Code §38.12(a) or (b), or Disciplinary Rule 7.03, is voidable by the client (Tex. Gov't Code §82.065(b)), and §82.0651 lets the client bring an action to void it. If you think a lawyer, or someone acting for one, solicited you improperly, the State Bar's Grievance and Ethics Information page explains how to file a grievance, including online.

Where can I get help in Spanish?

  • Directory. Find A Lawyer can be filtered by languages spoken, and lawyer profiles show any foreign language assistance.
  • State Bar referral line. The LRIS page says "Se habla Español" and links to a Spanish-language version.
  • Referral services list. The State Bar publishes its list of the lawyer referral services it certifies in Spanish.
  • InjuryClaimGuide. This site is available in Spanish, and the intake asks whether you prefer firms that speak English or Spanish. Language is one of the four things routing is based on.
  • Ask directly. You can ask any lawyer's office whether a Spanish-speaking lawyer or staff member will work on your matter.

Related Houston guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a personal injury lawyer in Houston?
Common routes include the State Bar of Texas Find A Lawyer directory at texasbar.com, which can be searched by county, practice area, language and fee options; a lawyer referral service on the State Bar's list of services it certifies, such as the Houston Lawyer Referral Service; and legal advertising services such as InjuryClaimGuide. Whichever route you use, you can check the lawyer's license and public disciplinary history on the State Bar's website.
Is the State Bar of Texas Find A Lawyer directory a referral service?
No. The directory page itself says the directory is not a certified lawyer referral service. It is a public directory of licensed Texas lawyers that you search yourself.
Does the State Bar of Texas offer a lawyer referral service?
Yes. As of October 22, 2026, the State Bar's Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) can be reached at (800) 252-9690, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central. Its page says it serves over 246 Texas counties and refers callers in counties it does not serve to a referral program the State Bar has certified. For Harris County, the page sends callers to the State Bar's list of the referral services it certifies, where the Houston entry is the Houston Lawyer Referral Service.
What is InjuryClaimGuide?
InjuryClaimGuide is a legal advertising service for personal injury matters in Texas, not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. Participating law firms pay InjuryClaimGuide to receive leads. If you choose to submit an intake, InjuryClaimGuide forwards your intake to participating firms you choose. It does not rate or evaluate any attorney, it does not evaluate your claim, and the choice of lawyer is yours.
Does a contingent fee agreement in Texas have to be in writing?
Yes. Texas Government Code §82.065(a) says a contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and the client.
Can I find a Spanish-speaking personal injury lawyer in Houston?
The State Bar's Find A Lawyer directory lets you filter by languages spoken, and lawyer profiles show any foreign language assistance. The State Bar's LRIS page says "Se habla Español" and has a Spanish-language version. You can also ask any lawyer's office directly whether a Spanish-speaking lawyer or staff member will work on your matter.

Sources

Ready to talk about your situation?

A free intake is about two minutes. No obligation. You decide if you want to be connected with anyone.

Start free intake

More guides

Start Free IntakeAbout 2 minutes. Free to you.

Start