who can i consult with other than an attorney

by Kennedi Abbott Jr. 3 min read

consult as many as you wish, but look for a firm that's attorneys are members of the Iowa Trial Lawyers/Assn' for Justice. If it's complex, you need someone with experience. Don't overthink the process--use the same thought process as you would looking for a medical specialist.

Full Answer

How do I find a good lawyer to consult?

Mar 03, 2015 · Corey Blake Goldberg. In Illinois you are free to consult with another attorney at any time. It is your case and you can hire or fire an attorney at any point. I would first call your current attorney however and have a conversation or set up a face to face meeting to go over all of your concerns.

Can a lawyer represent more than one client in court?

Mar 29, 2015 · If I understand your question correctly, you are asking if it is okay to have an initial consultation with four or five law firms so that you can make an informed decision about who to hire to represent you in a personal injury case. If that is the situation then the answer is yes!

What questions should I Ask my attorney during a consultation?

Aug 11, 2021 · And find organizations that give free legal advice and may help you find a free or low-cost attorney. What to Look for in a Lawyer. Before looking for an attorney, decide what kind you need. Common fields include: Criminal law. Family law. Landlords and Tenants. Labor and Employment. You can often talk to a lawyer for free for at least the ...

Can a lawyer represent a client without informed consent?

The person might be part of the lawyer's staff, an outside party with relevant expertise (for instance, an investigator), an interpreter, or even a relative who acts in an advisory role. When determining whether the attorney-client privilege applies to a conversation involving a third person, courts generally consider:

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Can a non-lawyer give legal advice?

As a general matter, only a lawyer may give actual legal advice, whereas any non-lawyer may recite legal information. Furthermore, it is generally illegal for a non-lawyer or unlicensed attorney to offer legal advice or otherwise represent someone other than themself in court.Feb 11, 2022

Are free consultations really free?

It's true: Free legal consultations really are free. Don't hesitate to take advantage of them if you were injured and want to find out about your legal options.Jul 2, 2015

Who can give legal advice in Australia?

59-68. In Australia, both lawyers and non-lawyers can legally provide legal advice.Oct 17, 2006

What is the difference between legal advice and legal opinion?

It points to the key difference between a legal opinion and legal advice—i.e., that a legal opinion is an attorney's analysis based on past or present facts, while legal advice is an attorney's counsel and guidance as to what future actions the client should take.

What is a consultation fee?

Consultation Fee means a fee paid by a consumer to a debt management services provider in connection with the processing of any application that the consumer makes for debt management services.

What is complimentary consultation?

The purpose of a complimentary consultation, also referred to as a discovery session, strategy session, sample session, get acquainted call, etc., is for you and your potential client to get to know one another a bit and to determine if the two of you are a good fit to work together. You are interviewing each other.Nov 14, 2014

How can I get free legal advice in Australia?

Community legal centres They provide free legal help to those most in need. Contact the Community Legal Centres Australia (02 9264 9595) for all centres in Australia.

Can I call myself a solicitor?

It is a criminal offence for someone to call themselves a solicitor or act as a solicitor if they are not on the roll of solicitors. We call these people "bogus solicitors" and we may prosecute them.

When can you call yourself a lawyer in Australia?

A person who has studied law, completed practical legal training, and been 'admitted' to the Supreme Court of their state or territory can call themselves 'a lawyer'. If a lawyer does legal work they must have a current practising certificate and be insured.Sep 2, 2020

What defines legal advice?

Legal advice is the giving of a professional or formal opinion regarding the substance or procedure of the law in relation to a particular factual situation. The provision of legal advice will often involve analyzing a set of facts and advising a person to take a specific course of action based on the applicable law.

Which is correct legal advice or legal advise?

The main difference between advice vs advise is that “advise” (with an S) is a verb, which means to recommend, or to give information to someone. On the other hand, “advice” (with a C) is a noun: an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action.

Do advocates give legal opinion?

Advocates also give legal opinions and help with the drafting of legal documents that are required in every walk of life, be it commercial, industrial or domestic.

Michael Joseph Dyer

Another attorney can give you general information but usually a delay or stop is caused because the client has not reached maximum medical improvement or is in litigation and the court's calendar can't be rushed or by a fact that may be evidence.

Corey Blake Goldberg

In Illinois you are free to consult with another attorney at any time. It is your case and you can hire or fire an attorney at any point. I would first call your current attorney however and have a conversation or set up a face to face meeting to go over all of your concerns.

Francis E. Younes

You are always free to discuss your case with another attorney. It is very important that you are comfortable with the individual that you have hired to represent you in any legal matter.

Peter Leehey

I highly recommend that you interview however many lawyers you need to interview until you find a firm that you are comfortable with. If your case is as complex as you make it sound, you're going to have a lot of contact with the law firm you select.

L. Craig Nierman

It is very important to find an attorney who is not just competent, but also one that you connect with personally. So, yes, I encourage you to visit attorneys to find one that fits with what you need.

Benjamin Goldman

When considering firms you should take into account whether the firm has experience specifically with the type of injury you are dealing with.

John Owen Moeller

Most personal injury lawyers have free consultation. Talk to several if you like. Complex cases are not necessarily good for the client or the lawyer. Everyone likes big easy cases.

Peter N Munsing

consult as many as you wish, but look for a firm that's attorneys are members of the Iowa Trial Lawyers/Assn' for Justice. If it's complex, you need someone with experience. Don't overthink the process--use the same thought process as you would looking for a medical specialist.

Michael F. Hupy

If I understand your question correctly, you are asking if it is okay to have an initial consultation with four or five law firms so that you can make an informed decision about who to hire to represent you in a personal injury case.

Christian K. Lassen II

Yes. Avvo has a great "find a lawyer" tool to locate a local lawyer. Good luck.

What is an individual lawyer?

Individual lawyers (also called attorneys) are experts in different areas of the law. Some attorneys specialize in a certain field of law, such as business, civil, criminal, or juvenile law. You will need to determine which type of attorney is right for your legal situation.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Keep in mind, Chapter 7 bankruptcy information stays on your credit report for 10 years. This can make it hard to get credit, buy a home, receive life insurance, or get a job. Learn more about bankruptcy, and other options for dealing with debt .

What happens when a third person is present in court?

Despite the general rule, there's an exception in most states: In general, when a third person is present, the attorney-client privilege continues to apply if that third person is there in order to aid the cause. Put more specifically, the third person must be present while fulfilling a role that furthers the defendant's legal representation. The person might be part of the lawyer's staff, an outside party with relevant expertise (for instance, an investigator), an interpreter, or even a relative who acts in an advisory role.

Can a defendant expect confidentiality?

A defendant might very well expect confidentiality when talking with a lawyer in front of a loved one. And it may be unlikely that the prosecution ever finds out about the meeting or calls the loved one to testify. But, if the prosecution tries to force a friend or loved one to the witness stand, then the role that this person played becomes crucial.

Is the internet secure?

The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties. The attorney-client privilege prevents people from revealing confidential communications between defendants and their lawyers. (See The Attorney-Client Privilege .) But what happens when a third person is in ...

How to choose a lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer is a crucial step in the resolution of your legal matter. Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, or merely a party looking for counsel, the right lawyer is key. But like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always last forever. Common problems that clients report with attorneys include: 1 Poor results. The lawyer is simply not achieving the results you were led to believe he or she could achieve. 2 Bad communication. The lawyer is not communicating about crucial legal matters and decisions, leaving you uncertain of where your matter is or what's expected of you. 3 Lack of professionalism. The lawyer perhaps arrives late to meetings, doesn't remember key facts about the case, cannot find documents already provided by the client, and even forgets to submit documents by key deadlines.

Why is it important to choose a lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer is a crucial step in the resolution of your legal matter. Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, or merely a party looking for counsel, the right lawyer is key. But like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always last forever.

What are the bad things about lawyers?

Bad communication. The lawyer is not communicating about crucial legal matters and decisions, leaving you uncertain of where your matter is or what's expected of you. Lack of professionalism.

What is a conflict of interest in a lawyer?

[8] Even where there is no direct adverseness, a conflict of interest exists if there is a significant risk that a lawyer's ability to consider, recommend or carry out an appropriate course of action for the client will be materially limited as a result of the lawyer's other responsibilities or interests. For example, a lawyer asked to represent several individuals seeking to form a joint venture is likely to be materially limited in the lawyer's ability to recommend or advocate all possible positions that each might take because of the lawyer's duty of loyalty to the others. The conflict in effect forecloses alternatives that would otherwise be available to the client. The mere possibility of subsequent harm does not itself require disclosure and consent. The critical questions are the likelihood that a difference in interests will eventuate and, if it does, whether it will materially interfere with the lawyer's independent professional judgment in considering alternatives or foreclose courses of action that reasonably should be pursued on behalf of the client.

Why is a lawyer asked to represent several individuals seeking to form a joint venture likely to be materially limited in

For example, a lawyer asked to represent several individuals seeking to form a joint venture is likely to be materially limited in the lawyer's ability to recommend or advocate all possible positions that each might take because of the lawyer's duty of loyalty to the others.

What are the principles of a lawyer?

General Principles. [1] Loyalty and independent judgment are essential elements in the lawyer's relationship to a client. Concurrent conflicts of interest can arise from the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or from the lawyer's own interests. For specific Rules regarding certain concurrent conflicts ...

Can a client terminate a lawyer's representation?

[21] A client who has given consent to a conflict may revoke the consent and, like any other client, may terminate the lawyer's representation at any time. Whether revoking consent to the client's own representation precludes the lawyer from continuing to represent other clients depends on the circumstances, including the nature of the conflict, whether the client revoked consent because of a material change in circumstances, the reasonable expectations of the other client and whether material detriment to the other clients or the lawyer would result.

What is informed consent?

[18] Informed consent requires that each affected client be aware of the relevant circumstances and of the material and reasonably foreseeable ways that the conflict could have adverse effects on the interests of that client . See Rule 1.0 (e) (informed consent). The information required depends on the nature of the conflict and the nature of the risks involved. When representation of multiple clients in a single matter is undertaken, the information must include the implications of the common representation, including possible effects on loyalty, confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege and the advantages and risks involved. See Comments [30] and [31] (effect of common representation on confidentiality).

Can a lawyer represent another person?

Thus, a lawyer related to another lawyer, e.g., as parent, child, sibling or spouse, ordinarily may not represent a client in a matter where that lawyer is representing another party, unless each client gives informed consent.

Can a lawyer represent a parent or subsidiary?

[34] A lawyer who represents a corporation or other organization does not, by virtue of that representation, necessarily represent any constituent or affiliated organization, such as a parent or subsidiary. See Rule 1.13 (a). Thus, the lawyer for an organization is not barred from accepting representation adverse to an affiliate in an unrelated matter, unless the circumstances are such that the affiliate should also be considered a client of the lawyer, there is an understanding between the lawyer and the organizational client that the lawyer will avoid representation adverse to the client's affiliates, or the lawyer's obligations to either the organizational client or the new client are likely to limit materially the lawyer's representation of the other client.

What happens if you fire a lawyer?

First, the lawyer that you fire is likely entitled to be paid for work already done.

Can I switch lawyers?

In some cases, you may not be able to switch lawyers depending on how far along your case is already. Judges have the discretion to keep a lawyer on the case if the case is too far along in the court process to have a new person be able to step in and take over.

Do I have to pay an hourly fee for a lawyer?

However, if your lawyer had been working on a contingency or percentage fee basis, you may be required to pay the lawyer’s hourly rate for time already spent on your case, plus any costs and expenses to date. There are also sometimes additional costs connected with hiring a new lawyer.

Can I change my lawyer in the middle of a case?

Can I change lawyers in the middle of a case if I’m unhappy with the lawyer I’ve hired? Yes. You can replace your lawyer if you have lost faith or confidence in your lawyer to represent you, you have the right to change counsel. Ideally, it would be good to speak with your lawyer about what is making you unhappy or uncomfortable and give ...

Why are attorney fees modified?

Given the economic turmoil of the times , such modifications may occur with increased frequency. While attorneys are free to bargain for the terms of their engagements at arms length before the commencement of the relationship, there is

What is close scrutiny in California?

The State Bar has used the term “close scrutiny” in evaluating an attorney’s conduct in seeking a fee modification. See, In re Lindmark (2004) 4 Cal. State Bar Ct. Rptr. 668 (a modification of a fee agreement implicates an attorney’s fiduciary duties to the client such that any modification “beneficial to the attorney will be closely scrutinized with the utmost strictness for any unfairness”).13/ The California Supreme Court has emphasized that the attorney bears the risk that the compensation provided by the initial fee agreement with the client is adequate for the retention.14/ We construe these precedents as supporting the use of a close scrutiny test when evaluating the fairness

Is a business transaction a business transaction in California?

No California case has defined “business transaction” within the context of rule 3-300. In California State Bar Formal Opn. No. 1989-116 this Committee noted that “once created, the attorney-client relationship is arguably a „business relationship‟ between attorney and client.” Since that opinion was issued, however, case law in California and elsewhere has differentiated a business transaction between an attorney and a client from an agreement for the payment of money for the rendition of professional services by the attorney. “Attorneys wear different hats when they perform legal services on behalf of their clients and when they conduct business with them.” Meyhew v.

What is an honorable discharge?

An Honorable Discharge is the highest-level of discharge that a service member can obtain. It reflects a service member who has served with distinction. Those who receive an Honorable Discharge will receive all rights and benefits afforded to veterans. General, Under Honorable Conditions.

What is a DRB in the military?

You can apply to the Discharge Review Board (DRB) of your branch of the service for a discharge upgrade or a change in the discharge reason (that is, character of service). Each service branch has its own DRB, which is tasked with evaluating discharge upgrade requests.

How long does it take to get veterans records?

Obtaining the records may take weeks, or even months in some cases. In practice, often a second request for records may be necessary if the service fails to provide complete records.

How long does it take to get a discharge upgrade?

The discharge upgrade process is not quick. In fact, most discharge cases take between several months to 24 months to complete. Unfortunately, even if you hire a discharge upgrade lawyer, your case will still take this long to process. This is because all boards currently have significant backlogs.

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General Principles

  • Loyalty and independent judgment are essential elements in the lawyer's relationship to a client. Concurrent conflicts of interest can arise from the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or from the lawyer's own interests. For specific Rules regarding certain concurrent conflicts of interest, see Rule 1.8. For former client conflicts of interest, see R…
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Identifying Conflicts of Interest: Directly Adverse

  • Loyalty to a current client prohibits undertaking representation directly adverse to that client without that client's informed consent. Thus, absent consent, a lawyer may not act as an advocate in one matter against a person the lawyer represents in some other matter, even when the matters are wholly unrelated. The client as to whom the representation is directly adverse is likely to feel …
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Identifying Conflicts of Interest: Material Limitation

  • Even where there is no direct adverseness, a conflict of interest exists if there is a significant risk that a lawyer's ability to consider, recommend or carry out an appropriate course of action for the client will be materially limited as a result of the lawyer's other responsibilities or interests. For example, a lawyer asked to represent several individuals seeking to form a joint venture is likely t…
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Lawyer's Responsibilities to Former Clients and Other Third Persons

  • In addition to conflicts with other current clients, a lawyer's duties of loyalty and independence may be materially limited by responsibilities to former clients under Rule 1.9 or by the lawyer's responsibilities to other persons, such as fiduciary duties arising from a lawyer's service as a trustee, executor or corporate director.
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Personal Interest Conflicts

  • The lawyer's own interests should not be permitted to have an adverse effect on representation of a client. For example, if the probity of a lawyer's own conduct in a transaction is in serious question, it may be difficult or impossible for the lawyer to give a client detached advice. Similarly, when a lawyer has discussions concerning possible employment with an opponent of the lawyer…
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Interest of Person Paying For A Lawyer's Service

  • A lawyer may be paid from a source other than the client, including a co-client, if the client is informed of that fact and consents and the arrangement does not compromise the lawyer's duty of loyalty or independent judgment to the client. See Rule 1.8(f). If acceptance of the payment from any other source presents a significant risk that the lawyer's representation of the client wil…
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Prohibited Representations

  • Ordinarily, clients may consent to representation notwithstanding a conflict. However, as indicated in paragraph (b), some conflicts are nonconsentable, meaning that the lawyer involved cannot properly ask for such agreement or provide representation on the basis of the client's consent. When the lawyer is representing more than one client, the question of consentability m…
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Informed Consent

  • Informed consent requires that each affected client be aware of the relevant circumstances and of the material and reasonably foreseeable ways that the conflict could have adverse effects on the interests of that client. See Rule 1.0(e) (informed consent). The information required depends on the nature of the conflict and the nature of the risks involved. When representation of multipl…
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Consent Confirmed in Writing

  • Paragraph (b) requires the lawyer to obtain the informed consent of the client, confirmed in writing. Such a writing may consist of a document executed by the client or one that the lawyer promptly records and transmits to the client following an oral consent. See Rule 1.0(b). See also Rule 1.0(n) (writing includes electronic transmission). If it is not feasible to obtain or transmit th…
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Revoking Consent

  • A client who has given consent to a conflict may revoke the consent and, like any other client, may terminate the lawyer's representation at any time. Whether revoking consent to the client's own representation precludes the lawyer from continuing to represent other clients depends on the circumstances, including the nature of the conflict, whether the client revoked consent because …
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