what does a free consultation with a lawyer consist of

by Gertrude Reichert Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago 4 min read

So, when a lawyer says that he or she will provide a free consultation it means that they will sit down with you, hear about your problem, and give you some initial thoughts about it, at no charge or obligation to you. This meeting gives you a chance to "interview" the lawyer and the lawyer the chance to interview you.

So, when a lawyer says that he or she will provide a free consultation it means that they will sit down with you, hear about your problem, and give you some initial thoughts about it, at no charge or obligation to you. This meeting gives you a chance to "interview" the lawyer and the lawyer the chance to interview you.Oct 17, 2011

Full Answer

Should attorneys offer free consultations?

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 seeing whether you can work well together. The average free consultation is short (generally, around half an hour).

Can I call a lawyer for free?

Oct 11, 2018 · You should be clear about any additional fees when you make your appointment if an attorney offers free consultations. What Is a Consultation? During a consultation, an attorney essentially reviews your claim and listens to your story to determine several things. First is whether you have grounds for a legal claim against another party.

How to find a free lawyer?

Jun 27, 2019 · You want to first ask the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Free lawyer advice from an expert in the field means they know the strengths of your case. You need to learn which points to highlight and which ones to not focus on. During your free attorney consultation, you want to identify as many of the issues that may arise.

What is the phone number for free lawyers?

Nov 20, 2019 · * “If We Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay*” means we offer free initial consultations on all cases and, if we handle a case on a contingency fee basis, our clients pay no fees or costs unless and until we obtain a recovery on their behalf; this meaning is subject to terms and conditions contained in our attorney-client employment contract, which must be executed by any client …

What is the purpose of a legal consultation?

The purpose of paid legal consultations, are to get specific legal questions answered and actions taken pertaining to your matter. During paid consultations, an attorney-client relationship is created with the client and attorney.

What is a initial consultation?

An Initial consultation is a 90 minute consultation for a new client who would like to meet with a psychologist to discuss current issues and/or concerns and talk about strategies and goals for therapy and/or a treatment plan.

What is a consultation fee?

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

What happens at a consultation?

Consultation – an in-depth discussion between you and the Consultant about your medical symptoms or condition. Preparing to visit us. At your outpatient visit, you will meet with the Consultant who will look after you throughout your treatment and, if necessary, your hospital stay.

What is the difference between an appointment and a consultation?

An appointment is a meeting at a specific time and place. A consultation is a meeting with an expert to seek advice. If I need to see a doctor generally I will make an appointment. Often doctors will consult with other doctors to decide complex issues.Mar 25, 2019

Why you should charge for a 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.

How do you calculate consulting fees?

How to calculate your consultant hourly rate

(75,000 / 50) / 40 = $37.50 per hour.
37.5 x 3 = $112.50 per hour for your hourly consulting fee.
20 x 50 = 1,000 working hours per year.
75,000 / 1,000 = $75 per hour for your hourly consulting fee.
(Estimated hours of work + 20% for contingencies) x Hourly rate = Project charge.

More items...

•

Nov 17, 2021

How do you charge for consultation services?

To calculate your hourly consulting rate:

Determine what salary you'd like to make.
Take that number and divide it by 52 (number of working weeks), then again by 40 (number of hours each week).
Take that number and mark it up by 25% to 50%.

Jul 1, 2021

What Is a Consultation?

During a consultation, an attorney essentially reviews your claim and listens to your story to determine several things. First is whether you have grounds for a legal claim against another party. Next is the strength or merit of that claim.

Preparing for Your Legal Consultation

If you are looking for an attorney to handle a legal matter, it’s best to start by providing a potential attorney with as much information as possible about the facts of your claim. Gather all documentation related to your incident before your consultation.

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.

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 consult?

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. If you agree to continue, that first consult provides them a consistent source of income.

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.

Do attorneys care about the complexity of a case?

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.

Using a Solid Online Presence to Make the Initial Cut

Consumers have options, lots of them. And they know how to make the most of the tools available to them to explore their options. A solid online presence is necessary for attorneys who want to grow their client base with new clients. If a prospective client can’t find you online, it doesn’t matter what your strengths over your competitors are.

Getting to Know Each Other

Soft skills – things like response time and front desk friendliness – matter to some, but not all, consumers. Survey respondents fell into one of two categories:

Making Free Consultations Work Both Ways

Don’t expect your free consultations to give you a 100 percent conversion rate. Some prospective clients will find that your personality doesn’t gel with theirs. They may balk at your rates or decide that your win rate doesn’t meet their expectations.

Separating the Free Consultation From the Initial Intake

Ideally, the free consultation will lead to a paid meeting in which the consumer becomes a client, discussions about specifics in the case, and completion of the engagement letter. The details covered at this level of the process are beyond the free arena.

1. Bring Any Documents Related to the Accident

Keep all documents you receive regarding the accident, your injury, or an insurance claim. It is a good idea to create folders for various documents related to the accident. You may want to create an accident folder, medical treatment folder, financial losses and expenses, and insurance claim folder.

2. Write Down Everything You Remember About the Accident

Start a journal as soon after the accident as possible. Write down everything you remember about the accident. Time can make memories and details fade, so it is best to get those details on paper while they are fresh in your mind.

3. Bring a List of Questions to Ask the Attorney

After the attorney asks a series of questions to get an idea about the case, you have an opportunity to ask the attorney questions. It can be easy to forget your questions during the consultation. Writing those questions day in advance of the appointment can be helpful.

5. You are not Required to Hire the Lawyer

You are not under any obligation to hire an attorney or law firm after a free consultation. The consultation is confidential and free of charge. Whether you want to hire the attorney is up to you.

6. The Attorney May Not Take Your Case

The attorneys are also not under any obligation to take your case after a free consultation. There are many reasons why an attorney may not take your case. Common reasons include:

Tips for Your Frew Lawyer Consultation

If you have been injured in an accident, it is a good idea to obtain the assistance of an experienced accident attorney who can help you pursue the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. Before retaining a lawyer’s services, however, you will often meet for a free lawyer consultation.

Speak with an Experienced Accident Attorney

At Ferrara Law, we focus on providing accident victims with answers to each of their questions during their initial consultations. Consultations with us are always free and after that, we do not take legal fees unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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.