I'm going to fast-forward through the details of my situation and just ask with every legal firm booked solid with appointments, how can I actually get a lawyer to represent me in a time-sensitive case instead of just getting advice? My wife is in intensive care and she may only have a few days left. I have tried the "friend-of-a-friend" strategy and there are no back channels.
Present your case honestly, forthrightly, on behalf of your wife,(who is the real person in need of an attorney here?). The Ombudsman (or patient's rights advocate) comes right away.
It seems urgent, so I advise you to give up the 'friend-of-a-friend'
strategy, and stop seeking what appears to be an attitude of entitlement on your part seeking back channels. If this rings true, maybe you have wasted a lot of time?
Did you want to give details, so someone with experience can answer?
My experience with attorneys is that they are 'booked' if they just do not want to take a case, for whatever reasons.
Hoping you get the help your wife needs. Keep trying.
If that came through to an attorney's office, being vague would not get him an appointment, ever.
Your indication of needing someone to "represent" you suggests to me that this is a situation beyond just needing end of life documents.
My own attorney rearranged her schedule to meet with my sister just after she extubated herself, in her hospital room.
Good law firms, if they want the case, will make arrangements as necessary.
I suspect though that there are other issues since you want representation for yourself and there don't seem to be firms available (that's usually just an excuse for not wanting to get involved). If you provide a bit more information, other suggestions might be available. If it's a potential litigation matter, that's a different story.
I am sorry to learn of your wife's condition; it must be very challenging and frustrating to try to find an attorney under those conditions.
Another thought: call the local or state bar association and ask for estate planning, elder law, or estate litigation (if that's the issue) law firms. Our bar assns. have various practice areas and could give you the names of firms in those particular practices.