how do you get a free lawyer consulatation

by Prof. Victor Schmitt V 6 min read

Many attorneys offer 10 to 60 minute, free of charge legal consultations. Check your phone book or online directory for attorneys in your area. Even if a law firm’s advertisement does not say "free consultation",you should still call and inquire because most attorneys will give a potential client at least 10 minutes to talk without charge.

Looking for free legal advice? Call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763)! We've found that people often have a fear regarding lawyers and what they charge for their services.

Full Answer

What is a free consultation with a lawyer?

Mar 10, 2022 · Labor and Employment You can often talk to a lawyer for free for at least the first conversation. Ask questions about their experience and fees. Find Free and Low-Cost Legal Help These programs offer a variety of ways to get legal aid. …

Where can I get free legal advice?

Apr 07, 2020 · A free consultation is essentially an appointment, either by telephone or in person, with an attorney and/or their legal team. This service is intended to grant you the opportunity to meet with the lawyer and get to know them – an important step in …

How do I find a good lawyer to consult?

Aug 05, 2020 · If you can bring evidence like medical bills, video footage, text messages, etc., you’ll make your attorney’s life so much easier. As this article on How to prepare for meeting with a lawyer points out, that initial legal consultation is all about determining the strength of your case. Evidence is the simplest and quickest way to do so.

How do I prepare for a legal consultation?

Oct 31, 2017 · 24/7 FREE LEGAL ADVICE: 1-800-ATTORNEY Call 1-800-ATTORNEY There are many free legal advice services available online as well, but we strongly advise you to take all online advice with a grain of salt. The law varies from state to state, and those giving legal advice will often have differing opinions, and may not even be licensed to practice law.

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What is a free consultation?

A free consultation is essentially an appointment, either by telephone or in person, with an attorney and/or their legal team. This service is intended to grant you the opportunity to meet with the lawyer and get to know them – an important step in seeing whether you can work well together. The average free consultation is short (generally, ...

How long does a lawyer consultation take?

A consultation for a simple divorce, on the other hand, might only take about 15 minutes over the telephone.

How to write a case?

Start by writing down a list of the most important aspects of your case. Keep this short, direct, and to the point. Keep this with you when you go. It’s also wise to bring a pen and paper with you. A tablet or smartphone works, too, if you prefer technology instead.

Do lawyers offer free consultations?

Some lawyers offer free consultations, but don’t necessarily declare it on their website and/or in advertising. Don’t be afraid to be direct and ask for a free consultation if you feel one is warranted. Most firms know how important this initial appointment is to ensure you’re both a good fit for one another.

Is it better to hire a lawyer or a lawyer?

It is far better to connect with a true legal expert – a lawyer – instead. The law is complex and rife with grey areas that aren’t always easy for the average layperson to understand. An attorney is best equipped to help you navigate your case. In most cases, hiring a lawyer starts with an initial consultation.

Can you ask for a consultation in California?

Once you identify someone suitable, you can ask them to arrange a consultation directly. All legal referral services are regulated and mandated by the California Bar. They must provide you with recommendations that are truly in your best interests at all times. You can trust them to find the right person for the job.

How much does a lawyer consultation cost?

If you have never hired a lawyer, you might wonder about free attorney consultation. There are many law practices that provide such an incentive to their clients. The cost of a lawyer consultation can be prohibitive. It can set you back between $100 to $400, depending on where you are.

Why is free legal advice important?

Your free lawyer advice affords you the flexibility to learn your proper legal course of action. It is in place to give you proper clarity to make an informed decision. Both parties will expect honesty from each other.

What is the first consultation?

The first consultation is always an educational, introductory session with the client. It’s there for the lawyer to understand in-depth what’s the issue at hand. If they get the facts straight, they can help you better with proper advice.

What is the nature of the first consult?

The nature of the first consults is always exploratory in nature. Attorneys don’t care how many hours for a session it will take for them to understand your case. They don’t care for the complexity of your case either. What’s important is they understand and can give you a good understanding of the law.

Is a lawyer's first consult free?

It is, however, not “free” in the strictest sense of the word. The first consult is a lawyer’s investment in a client. It’s their way to create a relationship with a potential client by providing free lawyer advice. It’s no free lunch for the client.

Is free legal advice legal?

Much like any free service, you should understand that free lawyer advice is not “official” legal advice. Official legal advice needs comprehensive, multi-session study of the case and law concerned. It also needs a further study of the court procedure that comes after.

Is there a free lunch for attorneys?

It’s no free lunch for the client. If you agree to continue, that first consult provides them a consistent source of income. If you don’t push through with your case, they move on. This is standard across the entire practice. Even then, you’re not getting any type of bad advice with a free attorney consultation.

Research Local Laws

Lawyers spend countless hours studying the law. While you don’t have to go that far, you should have a solid idea of where your case falls and how it’s classified.

Bring Any Evidence You Have

Explaining your story to a lawyer can get tedious. And if that’s all you have, you’re not making a great argument for your case.

Discuss Compensation

Typically, lawyers collect payments through two means: an hourly rate or contingency.

Bring up the Competition

Lawyers work together all the time. As such, they know one another’s strengths and weaknesses.

What to ask a lawyer about a case?

An important question to ask a lawyer is what the strategy for your case will be and the outcome the lawyer expects. You’ll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options. Think about the answers and if you are comfortable with them. Maybe you want to avoid a trial at all costs but your attorney really wants to just go to trial, or perhaps you have no intention of settling and want your day in court. It is important that your lawyer’s strategy lines up with your needs.

What is a meeting with a lawyer?

Meeting with a lawyer for an initial consultation is generally not a chance to ask legal questions that are in depth, but is instead an opportunity to get a sense as to whether this lawyer is the right one to handle your case. Use this meeting to help you decide which lawyer will be the best one for your case.

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting.

Why do lawyers offer free consultations?

Most lawyers offer a free consultation so that you have a chance to determine if he or she is the right person for you. Going to the first meeting with some simple questions can help you ensure you find the right person for the legal help you need. You will not get much legal advice at this consult since it is not meant to resolve your legal ...

Can you ask where an attorney went to law school?

It is generally not very helpful to ask where the attorney went to law school since you can find this information online and it often tells you nothing useful anyhow. Focus instead on experience with your type of case. You can also ask the average verdict the lawyer has obtained in your type of case.

What is the best phone number to call for a free consultation?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763), you’ll be connected with an attorney in your area who’s familiar with ...

What is the number to call an attorney?

When you call 1-800-ATTORNEY (1-800-288-6763) , you’ll be connected with an attorney in your area who’s familiar with the laws in your state, who’s willing to listen to your concerns, and who can explain the options available to you moving forward. Calls are answered 24 hours a day! 24/7 FREE LEGAL ADVICE: 1-800-ATTORNEY.

Is there legal advice online?

There are many free legal advice services available online as well, but we strongly advise you to take all online advice with a grain of salt. The law varies from state to state, and those giving legal advice will often have differing opinions, and may not even be licensed to practice law.

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 is legal advice?

Legal advice is advice given to a person that seeks the advice from an attorney, the advice given pertains to matters within the attorney’s competence, and the attorney expressly or impliedly agrees to give advice or their assistance in the matter. If such legal advice is given an implied attorney-client relationship may be formed between you ...

What is legalmatch database?

An attorney database, such as LegalMatch’s database, is helpful in assisting you in locating the right attorney for your particular legal issue. However, it is important to remember that a legal consultation alone will often not provide a full solution to your legal problem, as it is only the first step in resolving your legal issues.

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.

Why is it important to be honest during a legal consultation?

Another reason to be completely honest during a legal consultation is that legal consultations will always be confidential. This means that what you discuss with an attorney will not be discussed outside the meeting room.

What documents are needed to bring a lawsuit?

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.

Why is it easier to win a civil case?

Civil lawsuits are easier to win because the burden of proof is lower. And it's not necessarily one or the other. There can be a criminal case and a civil case for the same matter. If you're considering whether or not to sue someone, or you have been sued, you're looking at a civil matter.

What is pro se representation?

This is called pro se legal representation, from the Latin meaning “for oneself. ”. It's fairly common in uncontested divorces and in small claims courts (especially in states that prohibit lawyers in small claims court). In certain matters, attorneys are required by law, whether you want one or not.

What does it mean when you hire a lawyer?

When you hire a lawyer, you're hiring someone to represent you. Depending on your issue, your lawyer may represent you in litigation (in court) or in mediation/arbitration proceedings. Or they may create, review, process, or file documents.

What are the two types of legal issues?

There are two main types of legal issues: criminal matters and civil matters. In criminal cases, the government prosecutes the case. In civil cases, the person bringing the suit hires an attorney to prosecute.

Do attorneys provide free consultations?

Many attorneys provide free consultations to new clients to see if there's a good fit between need and expertise. When you decide to hire an attorney, do your due diligence and take a look at Avvo's guide to finding and hiring a great lawyer.

Avvo

Avvo should be your first stop for free legal advice if your question is straightforward.

Quora

Maybe your question is less straightforward, but you’re not ready to pay for a 15-minute phone call. Quora is your next stop.

Reddit

Reddit operates similarly to Quora, but with anonymity. This can be good in that it encourages candid responses. But if you want to double check whether your answer comes from an authoritative source, you’re out of luck.

Twitter

If you don’t have any lawyers following you, asking your legal question on Twitter isn’t likely to yield much. However, I’ve found the lawyers on Twitter to be pretty responsive when addressed directly.

Rocket Lawyer

Despite ranking for “free legal advice,” Rocket Lawyer is not free. You can get one free legal form, and there is some free advice on the site. So it’s not a bad place to gather information. But you’re not going to get as much for free as you do with Avvo.

Conclusion

Good advice is hard to find. Good, free advice is even harder. Good thing these sites exist. If they can’t solve your problem, they’ll at least get you closer. And you won’t have to go through doorway pages or give up your credit card information to get there.

What is law work?

LawWorks. LawWorks is a charity which connects lawyers with people who cannot get legal aid. It can provide free advice on issues such as: debt. welfare rights. housing matters. employment law. consumer disputes. You’ll need to make an appointment to see a lawyer at one of LawWorks’ legal advice clinics.

What is a PSU?

Personal Support Unit (PSU) The Personal Support Unit is a charity which can help you if you have to go to court without a lawyer. It can: explain how the court works. help you with forms and any documents you might need in court. help you plan what you want to say in court.

What is pro bono work?

Pro bono work is free legal help for people who: cannot afford to pay for legal services and. do not qualify for legal aid. Solicitors work pro bono to help make sure everyone has access to justice when they need it. Pro bono work is voluntary and there’s no obligation to do it, although many solicitors choose to.

Do you have to pay legal fees if you lose a case?

You might have to pay legal costs if you lose your case and the other party has been given professional legal help. You should discuss what costs you might have to pay with your lawyer before they start work on your case.

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