In a consumer protection lawsuit, the plaintiff consumer will want a lawyer to represent their side of the case. Depending on how the case was brought to trial, the meaning of this could vary. If a case was brought through a state or local consumer protection agency, it is possible that a court-appointed consumer protection lawyer will be used or the individual will represent themselves. In cases where legal action was immediately taken, it is likely that a consumer protection lawyer would have already been consulted to initiate legal action. In any case, it can be advantageous for a consumer protection lawyer to assist in the consumer's lawsuit, and even moreso in cases that require special attention to state-specific laws. Consumer protection lawyers can usually be found by getting into contact with consumer advocacy groups or from online databases.