what free consultation lawyer includes

by Joanie Bahringer 8 min read

What does a free legal consultation include? A free legal consultation is an opportunity for us to answer your questions about the case and about the law. Additionally, it is an opportunity for you to learn about your legal options and assess whether our Houston personal injury lawyer is the right fit for you.

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

Should attorneys offer free consultations?

Questions to Ask

  • What is your legal background?
  • What area of law do you specialize in?
  • How many cases have you served on?
  • How often do you enjoy a successful outcome?
  • Do you have any special experiences or training?
  • How do you charge for services – by retainer, per hour, or on a contingency?
  • Do you take payments by check or credit card?
  • Do you offer financing options?

More items...

Can I call a lawyer for free?

Legal advice is free. You do not need to apply for a grant of legal aid to get legal advice and you do not have to meet any eligibility criteria to use the service. However, if you get a grant of legal aid you will probably have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your matter.

How to find a free lawyer?

Try these searches:

  • Pro Bono Resource Directory maintained by the American Bar Association. ...
  • Contact your local or state bar association (a professional organization dedicated to advancing the careers and education of their members). ...
  • Contact the organization or state agency that oversees lawyer licensing in your state. ...
  • Visit the local law school. ...
  • Call the local courthouse. ...

More items...

What is the phone number for free lawyers?

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!

Who can be appointed as a free legal representative?

Why do lawyers not give legal advice?

What is a legal clinic?

Who is Jaclyn from LegalMatch?

Can the government refuse to pay for a lawyer?

Do lawyers have to discuss fees before hiring?

Do lawyers get paid for contingency fees?

See more

About this website

image

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 it called when a lawyer does something for free?

What is a pro bono program? Pro bono programs help low-income people find volunteer lawyers who are willing to handle their cases for free. These programs usually are sponsored by state or local bar associations.

What is consultation fee?

Consultation Fee means a fee paid by a consumer to a debt management services provider in connection with the processing of any application that the consumer makes for debt management services.

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.

Why do pro bono lawyers work?

The client simply would not have been able to afford a lawyer if a fee had been charged. Of course, this is really typical of pro bono work: it often involves helping clients in life changing ways with issues which they otherwise would not be able to seek advice on.

How do pro bono lawyers get paid?

Usually, pro bono attorneys do not get paid. But there is the possibility that a pro bono attorney may receive some amount of compensation — or at least not lose money for taking the case. Lawyers who take pro bono cases may also receive waivers of court costs and other filing fees.

What does pro bono mean in law?

for the public goodThe term "pro bono," which is short for pro bono publico, is a Latin term that means "for the public good." Although the term is used in different contexts to mean “the offering of free services,” it has a very specific meaning to those in the legal profession.

I Have No Money, How Can I Hire an Attorney? - HG.org

Frequently, the people who need an attorney the most are also the ones who can least afford to pay for one. Whether accused of a crime, injured in an accident, or facing the possibility of losing your children, there are many situations where the stakes are so high that you might desperately need an attorney even though you have no way to pay.

Free Legal Help - American Bar Association

Legal Aid. Federally funded legal services offices provide lawyers who are experts in helping low-income people with legal problems. Pro Bono. Pro bono programs match low-income clients with volunteer lawyers, who agree to take their cases for free.

Free Legal Advice - Avvo

Get immediate free information and advice from experienced attorneys on most common legal issues. Thousands of answers and articles, all easy to find.

How to Find Legal Help When You Can't Afford a Lawyer

Whether you need help drawing up a will or a contract – or you're facing some sort of legal jeopardy or dilemma – hiring an attorney can be expensive. According to USLegal.com and related ...

Writing a Simple Letter to Attorney Requesting Help [Free Sample]

A letter can ask for initial help with a variety of issues. Help may be needed to know what is happening with a pending case such as a child custody case or a car accident. Understanding the reason for contacting the attorney will help with writing a letter that is clear, concise, and straight to the point.

Claiming Free Legal Aid / Application Procedure - National Legal ...

Such persons can be assisted by the SLSAs/DLSAs/TLSCs or panel Advocates etc., once they approach the legal services institutions. The Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) who are stationed in the villages can also gather necessary information of such applicants and fill up the forms for them.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

Who can be appointed as a free legal representative?

In criminal cases, those who cannot afford a lawyer will be appointed a free legal representative by the court. These representatives are usually selected from the local public defender’s office. The main purpose of appointing a public defender is to ensure that people who cannot pay for legal assistance in a criminal case will still receive fair ...

Why do lawyers not give legal advice?

The reason for this is due to special ethical and professional rules that lawyers and those providing legal advice have to follow. In fact, most of them cannot provide actual legal advice. They can only offer free legal information (e.g., where to find a particular court form, etc.). Thus, if an individual needs actual legal advice ...

What is a legal clinic?

A legal clinic is a service that allows current law students to gain experience by working on real-life cases under the supervision of a faculty advisor (e.g., usually a law school professor who is also a lawyer).

Who is Jaclyn from LegalMatch?

Prior to joining LegalMatch, Jaclyn was a paralegal and freelance writer.

Can the government refuse to pay for a lawyer?

So long as a person qualifies for free legal representation, the government cannot refuse to pay for their lawyer because it would violate ...

Do lawyers have to discuss fees before hiring?

While each lawyer may have different conditions for this fee arrangement, a person should be sure to discuss all of the terms of the agreement before they hire them. Lastly, though a person may be responsible for minor costs like filing fees or expert witness fees, the outcome may be worth the smaller expenses.

Do lawyers get paid for contingency fees?

On the other hand, if a lawyer has agreed to take a case on a contingency fee basis and they do not prevail, they will be paid nothing for their services.

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.

Thomas G. Wilkinson Jr

Most disclaimers state that no attorney-client relationship is being established before a retainer fee is paid. If the consultation is for the purpose of seeking legal advice, the discussion should be deemed privileged. Many states have adopted a rule of professional conduct that applies to...

Eric Edward Rothstein

Does the disclaimer say “no attorney-client privilege” or “no attorney-client relationship?” It could be that he means “relationship” so no client can claim he became their lawyer without paying a retainer fee. Did you ask the attorney whether or not what you discuss before paying a retainer...

Andrew Daniel Myers

Whether or not an attorney-client relationship is established, thus creating obligatory confidentiality, is not up to the attorney's discretion, but rather, is in the rules of professional conduct and the authorities that administer the rules. I am not licensed in New York. However, in a general sense, most applicable rules...

Joseph Jonathan Brophy

I would be nervous about consulting with an attorney who has such a disclaimer. It's one thing to post anonymously to Avvo and receive general information. That's what is happening right now. It's quite another to give an attorney all your identifying information and confide your legal problem without any assurance of confidentiality...

Who can be appointed as a free legal representative?

In criminal cases, those who cannot afford a lawyer will be appointed a free legal representative by the court. These representatives are usually selected from the local public defender’s office. The main purpose of appointing a public defender is to ensure that people who cannot pay for legal assistance in a criminal case will still receive fair ...

Why do lawyers not give legal advice?

The reason for this is due to special ethical and professional rules that lawyers and those providing legal advice have to follow. In fact, most of them cannot provide actual legal advice. They can only offer free legal information (e.g., where to find a particular court form, etc.). Thus, if an individual needs actual legal advice ...

What is a legal clinic?

A legal clinic is a service that allows current law students to gain experience by working on real-life cases under the supervision of a faculty advisor (e.g., usually a law school professor who is also a lawyer).

Who is Jaclyn from LegalMatch?

Prior to joining LegalMatch, Jaclyn was a paralegal and freelance writer.

Can the government refuse to pay for a lawyer?

So long as a person qualifies for free legal representation, the government cannot refuse to pay for their lawyer because it would violate ...

Do lawyers have to discuss fees before hiring?

While each lawyer may have different conditions for this fee arrangement, a person should be sure to discuss all of the terms of the agreement before they hire them. Lastly, though a person may be responsible for minor costs like filing fees or expert witness fees, the outcome may be worth the smaller expenses.

Do lawyers get paid for contingency fees?

On the other hand, if a lawyer has agreed to take a case on a contingency fee basis and they do not prevail, they will be paid nothing for their services.

image