why doesn't lawyer offer free consultation attorney

A lawyer offering a free consultation is not going to give you the answers or advice you really need. Doing so puts him or her at risk by potentially creating an attorney-client relationship, and offers the attorney no benefit. So it is likely that a free consultation will end in frustration and wasted time for you.

Full Answer

Should you offer a free initial consultation?

I've never been a fan of the free consultation, because it doesn't communicate the true value of the advice being given. It’s understandable why lawyers offer it - decreasing the threshold resistance to getting a client in the door - but that comes at a price, which is spending precious time with people who might not be serious.

What is a free consultation with a lawyer?

Aug 14, 2020 · There is little in between, which makes the question of whether to offer free consultations hotly debated. Free consultations are the norm in some areas of practice, such as personal injury or disability claims, in which attorneys usually work on a contingency fee basis. This is what consumers expect. In other practice areas, like family law, free consultations are …

How to get the most out of a legal consultation?

Oct 11, 2018 · After the consultation, the attorney will likely offer to represent the client if his or her claim has merit; the client may then decide to form an official attorney-client relationship. This is a great opportunity for the potential client to ask questions, so it’s a good idea to know how to prepare for a consultation with an attorney.

What is a consulting attorney?

Jul 01, 2017 · Some cases are better than others at getting results so it really depends on whether the lawyer thinks they will have something on their hands that is worth their time or not. Law firms like http://www.cdfslaw.com/ do not offer free consultations because they are too busy working to not make money from the get-go.

Bring Any Evidence You Might Have Gathered

Don’t show up to your free consultation empty-handed if you have evidence to support your arguments. Why? You want to persuade the lawyer you’re meeting with to take your case. Telling your side of the story is a great start. However, having evidence to corroborate what you’ve told the lawyer can be incredibly helpful.

The Attorney Will Ask Questions, Too

The attorney you meet with will undoubtedly have some questions for you after you’ve given a detailed account of your accident. They’ll likely ask pointed questions to identify if you might be allocated some of the blame.

Be Prepared to Discuss Attorney Fees and Court Costs

Most personal injury attorneys across the nation, including those right here in NYC, work on a contingency basis. This means that their attorney fee depends on the outcome of your case. A fee is only paid if the lawyer recovers a settlement offer or verdict in your case.

The Lawyer Might Not Take Your Case

Again, just because you’ve scheduled a free consultation and discussed your accident with an attorney doesn’t mean that they’ll agree to take your case. Common reasons for this include:

You Get What You Pay For

The old adage is true in this case: you really do get what you pay for. In most cases, a free consultation is meant to be informational: to tell you about Minnesota divorce in general, not to give you specific advice about your case. If you're looking for a lawyer, chances are you have an urgent legal issue about which you have questions.

Time is of the Essence

Rarely is this saying more true than in a legal setting. If your spouse or co-parent has filed a lawsuit or motion that could affect your rights, you may have only days to respond. If you fail to respond within the required time limit, the other party will probably get what they are requesting, whether or not that is fair in light of all the facts.

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...

What is scarcity in business?

Scarcity is a principle that successful entrepreneurs use to establish the value of their services. I’m not telling you to charge $200 an hour for a consultation call. What I am saying is that when someone has skin in the game, they’re invested and are likely to take action on what you teach them.

Why don't people respect free sessions?

People don’t respect something as much when it’s free because they don’t have “skin in the game.” Besides the money, there’s an important psychological principle happening. If someone is going to chase a dream, or make a big change in their business, they have to change their mindset. A free session will not change their mindset.

What happens if you spend too much time on your business?

If you spend too much of your time working on your business, what you've actually created is a job you own. 3. You’re lessening the value of what you sell.