A real attorney handles your case
OTR is not a law firm. When you book with us, your case is handled by an independent, licensed attorney from one of our partner law firms. This is a real lawyer who represents you — someone who knows your local court and handles cases like yours regularly.
Every attorney in our network has been vetted before joining, and their performance is monitored on an ongoing basis. You are always in good hands.
How we match you with the right attorney
When you book, OTR's SmartMatch system uses over 10 years of case data to identify the best-suited attorney for your specific case. It looks at your charge type, your court location, and the track records of available attorneys — then connects you with the one most likely to get you a good result.
This is something you cannot do on your own. Without this data, most people would choose a lawyer based on reviews or name recognition. But a highly rated attorney may have earned those reviews for a completely different type of case in a completely different court. SmartMatch goes deeper than surface-level ratings.
Why you don't see your attorney before booking
This is one of the most common questions we get. The reason is simple: attorney availability in our network changes fast. An attorney who is available right now may not be available 15 minutes from now. OTR helps tens of thousands of clients each month, so attorneys can get booked up quickly.
If we showed you a specific attorney before you booked and that attorney was no longer available by the time you completed booking, you would have a frustrating experience. Instead, we match you the moment you book — so you always get an available, well-suited attorney.
Can I request a specific attorney?
Yes, in some cases:
- Returning clients: If you have worked with a specific attorney before and want to use them again, you can. Just click the "Book another case with this law firm" button on your existing case.
- New clients with a preference: If you want to work with a specific attorney or firm, you are welcome to book over the phone and request them. If we are able to match you with that firm, we will.
What happens after you are matched
Once you are matched, your attorney will review your case. Two things can happen:
- The attorney accepts your case They begin working on it right away. At this point, the attorney-client relationship is formed, and your attorney will work with you to resolve the matter through to completion.
- The attorney declines your case OTR automatically finds the next best available attorney and matches your case to them.
Attorneys may decline a case for reasons that have nothing to do with your case's chances of success — scheduling conflicts, full capacity, or personal availability. A decline is not a reflection on your case.
Most cases are accepted by the first attorney matched. Sometimes a case is passed along a few times before an attorney is able to accept it. Either way, OTR handles this process for you.
Who you interact with during your case
While your case is in progress, you may communicate directly with your attorney or with members of their staff, such as paralegals and legal assistants. This is normal. Your attorney's team is working on your case together.
You can message them anytime through the case chat in the OTR app or website.
OTR's support team has your back
Your attorney and firm handle the legal work, but OTR's customer service team is always on standby. If something goes wrong — slow communication, unanswered questions, or any other issue — our team can step in and help get things back on track.
When you book with OTR, you do not just have an experienced attorney in your corner. You have a whole support team behind you.
What if your attorney can't finish your case?
In rare cases, an attorney may not be able to see your case through to completion. When this happens, OTR finds you a new attorney to pick up where the previous one left off.
If you had hired a lawyer on your own, you would have to handle this yourself — contacting the court, finding a replacement, and making sure no deadlines are missed. With OTR, all of that is taken care of for you.
Ready to book?
Visit our booking wizard to enter your case details and get an instant quote. Once you book, we will match you with the right attorney for your case — and you will have an entire team supporting you from start to finish.
