why attorney charge for consultation

Why do lawyers charge a consultation fee? It’s an opportunity for the client to ask questions and get a professional legal opinion about the merits of his or her case. By advising the client during the consultation, the lawyer is working and providing a valuable service.

Full Answer

Do most lawyers give an hour long free consultation?

Why You Should Go To An Attorney That Charges a Consultation Fee. The reality of the situation is that getting really good at being a Patent Attorney takes years of practice and not everyone can do it. Patents are a specialty within law requiring a further bar exam. I know of no really good Patent Attorneys that don't charge for their time.

Can an attorney charge for a phone consultation?

Some lawyers use consultation fees to determine how serious you are about your case and whether you have the means to pay for their services. A consultation fee also helps to weed out those just searching for free legal advice. Attorneys spend a lot of time, effort and money to gain their expertise and knowledge and a good consultation provides the client with valuable …

How much do you charge for consultation?

Why do lawyers charge for consultation? Some lawyers use consultation fees to determine how serious you are about your case and whether you have the means to pay for their services. Attorneys spend a lot of time, effort and money to gain their expertise and knowledge and a good consultation provides the client with valuable information.

Should attorneys offer free consultations?

Why do lawyers charge a consultation fee? It’s an opportunity for the client to ask questions and get a professional legal opinion about the merits of his or her case. By advising the client during the consultation, the lawyer is working and providing a valuable service.

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.

About Joleena Louis

Joleena Louis is a matrimonial and family law attorney at Joleena Louis Law, a firm she founded after leaving a boutique matrimonial firm in Brooklyn. Joleena is a client in Law Firm Suites’ Financial District location. Her weekly blog series Things I Wish I Knew...

Peter Christopher Lomtevas

I would dare to say that American consumers are the most careless consumers. We have evolved a spending culture that elevates products like cigarettes, fast food and alcohol over anything healthy or having quality.

Rixon Charles Rafter III

Meaningless criterion from the perspective of whether a lawyer is better or not. Its a business decision.#N#Many attorneys feel that giving free consults allows the 'rif-raff' through the door-- (where 'rif-raff' can be anyone, of any social economic standing, who has no case...

Russell Henry Hippe III

I concur that it probably doesn't matter. Personally, I offer a free phone consultation and I charge a modest "in office" consultation based on the client ability to pay. I have a minimum hourly rate, but I based my engagement rate on the client financial profile, the complexity of the case, and the resources at play in the case.

Jason Howard Forcier

Exactly what my peers have said. It's a business model. For some it may merely be a test to determine how serious a new client is about their case. In other instances, it may be necessary because of the length of time the consult may require.

Michael L Detzky

Whether or not to charge an initial consultation fee is entirely up to the individual attorney. Generally you will find that most personal injury and bankruptcy attorneys may offer free initial consultations while lawyers practicing matrimonial and immigration law may charge a consultation fee...

David M. Kasell

Charging for a consultation or not is a function of the lawyer's business model and does not indicate that a lawyer who charges for a consult is better than one that does not.