A free consultation with a lawyer means that you can talk to an attorney about your case before the person charges you to start representing your case with that law firm or law office. Simply put, you can talk to an attorney or lawyer for free, then decide if you want to engage that attorney’s services to handle your legal issues for you.
Most lawyers will give a free consultation (not necessarily an hour) unless they are already so busy that they do not have time for another case. In that case it may be referred to a junior partner. They will probably not give you free legal advice. They will tell you whether you have a case or not.
You'll find plenty of free legal advice in Avvo's guides with information on over 1,000 legal topics and over 7 million questions and answers. Just remember that laws can vary significantly from state to state. When researching online, don't rely on information about another state's laws, as it may not be relevant to your situation.
The average free consultation is short (generally, around half an hour). However, some legal firms might offer more time, especially if your case is high-profile, especially complex, or involves a significant amount of money.
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.
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.
An initial consultation is the first time that you are able to speak one-on-one with an attorney. Both you and the attorney have a chance here to learn about each other. The lawyer will learn about the details of your case while you learn about the lawyer and the firm.
Day of consultation The standard attire for meeting with you lawyer should be business casual. Wear dress pants, a nice shirt or top. Women should wear a conservative dress or skirt. Nothing too revealing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, ...
A consultation for a simple divorce, on the other hand, might only take about 15 minutes over the telephone.
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.
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.
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.
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.