what are lawyer free consultations

by Prof. Ernesto Jacobs 5 min read

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.

During a free consultation, the potential client provides the attorney with facts about his or her situation, and the attorney interprets those facts and helps the client understand the legal implications.Dec 18, 2018

Full Answer

Where can I get a free consultation with a lawyer?

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.

How to get a free consultation from a lawyer?

  • Uncontested divorce
  • Identity theft
  • Visitation rights
  • Landlord/tenant disputes

How can lawyers charge for a free consultation?

  • Motor vehicle accidents involving: Car accidents Truck accidents Motorcycle accidents
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
  • Boat and airplane crashes
  • Slip and fall incidents
  • Swimming pool-related drownings and other injuries
  • Dog bites and animal attacks
  • Catastrophic failures of defective consumer products, automotive products, and dangerous medications

More items...

How to prepare for a free lawyer consultation?

Part 3 of 3: Attending Your Consultation

  1. Assemble everything you need. Before heading out the door, do a double-check to see that you have everything you will need for your consultation.
  2. Dress nicely. You don't have to put on a suit. ...
  3. Arrive on time. ...
  4. Check in with the secretary. ...
  5. Meet with the lawyer. ...
  6. Ask for recommendations. ...
  7. Write down your impressions of the attorney. ...
  8. Call to hire the lawyer. ...

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What is included in a free consultation?

A free consultation is a one-on-one interaction, conversation, meeting, or interview given freely to share one's thoughts and discuss possible opportunities of working together.

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.

What is the purpose of a consultation 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 free consultation important?

Favorable Public Opinion: Since we know that the public is looking for a bargain, offering a free consultation is a good way to earn a favorable public opinion. When paired with satisfaction as the result, you will get great word of mouth advertising, leading to an increased number of clients.

What is a consultation fee?

Consulting Fees means the consideration paid by the Company or a subsidiary to a Consultant for services.

What should I wear to a lawyer consultation?

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.

What happens at an initial consultation?

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.

What is a consultation in law?

Consultation – a consultation paper is issued setting out in detail the existing law and its defects, giving the arguments for and against the possible solutions and inviting comments.

Are these Free Consultations Worthless?

No. They’re accommodating. I’ve had some great experiences at lawyer consultations. I found one willing to give me a second opinion after my first consultation didn’t go well. The lawyer helped to figure out the next possible step.

Free Lawyer Consultation Quality over Quantity

The biggest challenge is to keep in mind when finding a lawyer through a website like this one is that you should only use websites that specialize in providing lawyer reviews. A review site will have fewer listings than a general search engine. That means that you won’t be inundated with irrelevant results.

How to Find Free Consultations?

There are numerous ways to find free consultations. Here are some of the best:

What Are The Benefits Of Free Lawyer Consultations?

There are many ways to hire a lawyer through a consultation service. Some of the most popular include:

Choosing the Right Attorney

After you’ve found several lawyers through the methods outlined above, you’ll need to make sure that you choose the right person. You want someone who has experience handling the kind of case you have.

Equal Opportunity for Retaining Counsel

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEO) has recently issued new guidelines regarding retaining counsel. The EEOC now advises employees not to be penalized for seeking representation when claiming against their employer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most attorneys will charge a minor fee for initial consultations. This is typically between $200-$300 per hour. After that, there’s no additional charge. Many attorneys also offer flat rate retainer agreements where clients pay a fixed amount each month regardless of how many hours they use.

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.

What to Look for in a Lawyer

Before looking for an attorney, decide what kind you need. Common fields include:

Find Free and Low-Cost Legal Help

These programs offer a variety of ways to get legal aid. Some limit their services to people with low incomes.

Find Legal Resources for Specific Groups

Stateside Legal - Find free legal help for military members, veterans, and their families.

Do you have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

How Much Does It Cost to Talk to a Lawyer?

A lawyer's time is very valuable whether they are working on a case, meeting with clients, or involved in negotiations. For this reason, lawyers have the option to charge current clients and potential clients a fee to have a meeting.

Typical Lawyer Consultation Fee Structures

Depending on the specific legal issue and the type of law, attorneys may offer potential clients a free consultation. Free consultations are most common in personal injury law and criminal law.

Factors that Impact Lawyer Costs

There are several factors that will impact how much a lawyer charges for a consultation and for future legal services if hired. Three substantial factors include the type of work or type of law practiced, the attorney's experience level, and the amount of work or what is to be discussed at the consultation.

What Are Typical Lawyer Hourly Fees?

Lawyer fees for a consultation vary throughout the United States. On average, consultation costs will range from about $250 an hour to $350 an hour. Rates will change depending on location, type of law, and attorney experience.

Free Question and Answer Forum

If you have more questions about how much lawyers charge for a consultation, go to ContractCounsel's Legal Questions and Answers page and submit your legal question today. After you post your questions, you will be notified when a knowledgeable, licensed attorney responds to your question.

Meet some of our Lawyers

I have been practicing law for 35 years. In addition to my law degree, I hold an MBA. I've created six companies, currently act as outside counsel to another 12, and have been an advisor to more than 500 startups and entrepreneurs.

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 is a legal problem?

But, if they're not breaking any laws, what you have is a personal matter, not a legal one. A legal problem is one that can be solved by using the law. It's an issue that's addressed within federal, state, or municipal laws and regulations.

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.

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