what is an attorney consultation?

A consultation with an attorney is basically an introduction to your circumstances and a review of how the attorney may help you. The purpose of a consultation is two-fold. First, it is to determine if you need the retain the services of an attorney.

Full Answer

How to get the most out of a legal consultation?

“Ask as many questions as you can in the time you have scheduled,” Woodard adds. “Don’t leave anything on the table before you walk out the door.” If feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of choosing a legal professional and/or simply don’t know where to begin, there are resources to point you in the right direction.

How much is a lawyer consultation fee?

When clients ask, "how much does a lawyer cost," the answer can vary from $50 to $1000 or more per hour. But if you're facing a legal issue, working with a lawyer is very helpful and can affect the outcome of the case.

Should attorneys charge a consultation fee?

Should an attorney charge a consult fee? Lawyers have to balance time spent obtaining clients versus time spent working on client matters. In high volume consumer practices, charging a small consultation fee will weed out people looking for free legal advice.

Should attorneys offer free consultations?

Questions to Ask

• What is your legal background?
• What area of law do you specialize in?
• How many cases have you served on?
• How often do you enjoy a successful outcome?
• Do you have any special experiences or training?
• How do you charge for services – by retainer, per hour, or on a contingency?
• Do you take payments by check or credit card?
• Do you offer financing options?

More items...

What Happens During an Initial Consultation with an Attorney?

At the initial consultation the attorney will generally ask you to give him or her a brief description of what you need help with. At this point, the attorney is not looking for the whole story, but a brief summary. He or she will then ask you a series of targeted questions in order to determine:

What does an attorney do when you have an understanding of your case?

Once the attorney has an understanding of your case, he or she will typically let you know what your legal options are, your prospects of success in achieving your goals, and how much he or she expects this to cost.

Is a free consultation free?

Most other consultations at our firm are free of charge. The purpose of a free consultation is not to obtain specific legal advice in the consultation, but rather to allow you to determine whether you would like to hire the attorney and to allow the attorney to determine whether he or she can help you achieve your legal goals.

Can an attorney give free legal advice?

The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client. Attorneys don’t give legal advice without first being retained ...

Do attorneys give free consultations?

Many attorneys offer both free consultations and paid consultations, depending on what you are trying to accomplish. The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client.

What is a legal consultation?

In short, a legal consultation is an initial meeting with an attorney that takes place before you make the decision on whether to hire that attorney to represent you in your particular legal matter. Further, the attorney will also use the consultation in order to determine if they can legally and competently represent you based on ...

How to prepare for a consultation with an attorney?

Before consulting with an attorney you should make sure that you properly prepare for the consultation by gathering any and all documents that are relevant to your case. It is important to bring every document you have for the attorney to review, as they will be able to properly determine which documents are relevant, and which are not.

What Kind of Questions Should I Ask During a Legal Consultation?

Questions that you should ask during a legal consultation may include questions regarding the attorneys background and qualifications, the attorneys fee arrangement, and specific questions about your case.

Should I Contact an Attorney and Schedule a Legal Consultation?

As can be seen there are many advantages to scheduling a legal consultation with an experienced and well qualified attorney in your area in your area. For instance, they will be able to evaluate your case, and represent your best interests throughout the legal process, should you choose to hire them.

How does LegalMatch work?

Present your case online in minutes. LegalMatch matches you to pre-screened lawyers in your city or county based on the specifics of your case. Within 24 hours experienced local lawyers review it and evaluate if you have a solid case. If so, attorneys respond with an offer to represent you that includes a full attorney profile with details on their fee structure, background, and ratings by other LegalMatch users so you can decide if they're the right lawyer for you.

How to consult with an attorney?

Before consulting with an attorney you should make sure that you properly prepare for the consultation by gathering any and all documents that are relevant to your case. It is important to bring every document you have for the attorney to review, as they will be able to properly determine which documents are relevant, and which are not. Documents that you should bring with you may include any of the following: 1 Contracts: If your claim arose from a contract dispute, then you should bring copies of the contract and any documents explaining the contract; 2 Police or Accident Reports: If possible, you should bring any police or accident report that was created as a result of the incident you were involved in; 3 Property Deeds: If your claim involves a property dispute, you should be sure to bring a copy of the deed or any documents relating to the property, such as an oil and gas lease, etc.; 4 Employment Records: If you claim is an employment dispute, then you should bring all of your employment records, such as your employment contract, employment agreements, or timesheets; or 5 Other Documents Evidencing Damages: Other important documents to bring include any evidence of damages, such as medical records or expenses, or any warranties or letters created by the party you are trying to sue.

What to ask an attorney about divorce?

For instance, in a divorce case, you may want to ask the attorney what their legal strategy is for obtaining child custody or alimony. Further, you may want to know if you are able to evict your spouse from the marital home, or create a separate bank account. An initial consultation is a great time to figure out whether the attorney you are discussing your case with would be helpful or the right fit for your particular case.

How to think of a lawyer consultation?

Try to think of your lawyer consultation as a combination of an interview and an informational session. Your potential lawyer will use this time to determine if they can help you, so you should use the time to consider whether or not that attorney is the right fit for your needs. If you can go into the process understanding what’s going to happen, you will have a much better chance of getting everything you need out of your consultation.

What is initial consultation?

First and foremost, your initial consultation with an attorney is the time when you first meet that person face to face. While you can do an awful lot of research about a lawyer online, nothing is as important as the meeting you’ll have with them for the first time. You will get not only a chance to learn a bit about the attorney, but you’ll also be able to get a feeling as to whether or not this is a person with whom you would like to work in the future.

Why do people work with lawyers?

While most people think of working with a lawyer as something that only happens when a crime is committed, the truth is that the reasons you might work with an attorney range from adopting a child to starting a new business. Every working relationship begins with a consultation, though, and understanding what will happen during that consultation is an excellent way to prepare yourself to get the most you can out of that meeting.

What is the purpose of consulting with a lawyer online?

Consulting with a Lawyer Online gives you the opportunity to reach out to several attorneys at once, explain your case in detail, and send it to all of them at once. Then the attorney has a chance to review the details of your situation and get back to you with the help you need.

How to get a lawyer back?

Traditionally, you would look through the phone book, pick a few lawyers for your type of case, and then start making calls. Usually, a receptionist will answer and take your messege, and hopefully the lawyer would get back to you soon. Nowadays though, everything, including consulting with a lawyer, is made much easier and much faster with the internet.

How to write a legal messege?

You first select the category of law you are interested in and the zip code of the location of your legal problem. This allows us to send your messege to the best attorneys for your kind of case, and your location. A series of questions will automatically drop down, depending on what kind of legal problem you are having. Simply answer these questions, and then write a brief description of your situation.

Why is it important to have a free initial consultation with an attorney?

The first attorney consultation is essential. Most attorneys offer free initial consultations so you can get to know them and their firm. Take advantage of this opportunity. Don’t be afraid to “shop around” before choosing a lawyer because it can take more than one try to find a good fit .

How to prepare for a first attorney consultation?

1. Gather your documents. 2. Have your questions ready. 3. Bring something to take notes. 4. Give all the facts.

What can an attorney do to help you with a case?

The more you bring, the better. The attorney can wade through your documents and figure out what is relevant to your case and what isn’t.

Why is it important to include all the facts in a case?

It’s crucial to include all of the facts, even if that means you’ll look bad. Your attorney has to know every detail of your case to determine whether or not they can help and to what degree.

What to say in a meeting about a car accident?

Most of the meeting will consist of giving an account of what happened that led you to seek legal counsel. For example, if you were hit by someone who was texting and driving, you would tell the story of what happened leading to the crash, how the crash occurred, damages and injuries it caused, etc.

Can you remember what an attorney says?

You won’t be able to remember all of what the attorney says, so writing down some main points is strongly encouraged. While the initial consultation doesn’t include legal advice, you may get some more general information or opinions on your situation.

What do you learn from an in person consultation?

If you take advantage of an in-person consultation, you will learn much more about that attorney's manner, appearance, and confidence than you will over the telephone.

Do lawyers offer free consultations?

Many attorneys state in advertising that they offer a free consultation. Some eager potential litigants set the appointment, armed with countless questions with the secret hope that the lawyer will give them enough "advice" so they can figure things out without the need for legal expense.