Consultation Guide
Guide: Make the most of your consultation.
If you need a referral to a pre-screened lawyer in your area, call Attorney Search Network at (800) 215-1190 or fill out a find a lawyer form online.
Once you have been referred to an Attorney and have your consultation scheduled, use this guide to make your first meeting and selection of your lawyer as successful as possible.
- A consultation can be in person or over the phone and has three goals.
- The Lawyer will determine if they can and want to take your case.
- The Lawyer will give you a price estimate of the cost of their representation
- The Lawyer will tell you about their experience and practice.
Once these three things are established, both you and the lawyer will have enough information to decide if you want to work together on your legal issue. Not all lawyers work with every type of law. Even within areas of law, there may not be types of cases a lawyer will take. Lawyers may not take your case based on the type of case, elements of the case, conflicting courts schedules, available calendar space, representation conflicts, personal choice or court jurisdiction. Do not be offended, contact Attorney Search Network and we can try to refer you to another attorney.
The cost of representation can vary depending on what type of case. There are cases in which your hire the lawyer to be your legal advocate / legal representative, there are typically called "Non-Contingency" cases. "Contingency" cases are cases where the lawyer does not charge upfront for their time and/or expenses of the case. They are paid a portion of the settlement at the end of the case.
In order for your lawyer to understand if they can or will take your case and/or how much the fee will be, you need to communicate your case as concisely, simply and completely as possible. See step 3.
2. What a Consultation is NOT
There is general misunderstanding about legal consultations. Here is a list of things they are NOT.
- Consultations are not legal advice sessions
- During the consultation the lawyer typically will not review paperwork (until they are hired)
- Consultations do not guarantee that the lawyer will take on your case
- Most lawyers will not advise during the consultation.
- Lawyers will not provide or guild you the proper forms during a consultation
- Consultations are not always free. Some lawyers charge for in-person or long consultations.
3. Communicating your Legal Issue
This is a highly critical step in selecting legal representation. You are already off to a good start by using a Lawyer Referral Service, you are assured that the lawyer is in good standing with the California State Bar, carries malpractice insurance and has been in practice for 5 or more years. In the consultation, it is your responsibly to communicate your legal issue to the best of your ability. The better this goes, the more likely the lawyer will understand your issue and the more accurate their fee estimate will be. There are a few steps to having a successful consultation.
1. Be prepared. Have all your documents, dates, amounts, charges, times, fees, fines, etc organized and with you. When the lawyer asks you a question you will be ready. We recommend you use one of our lawyer consultation guides. Keep in mind, the lawyer probably won't review your paperwork, but you should have it in case it is needed.2. Be honest. It is important to be honest and speak candidly with your lawyer, so your lawyer can help you in the best possible way. Don't worry - the information you disclose to your lawyer is protected by the attorney-client privilege. A good lawyer will be honest with you in return by giving you directions and informing you of your options.
3. Answer the lawyer's questions. Lawyers deal with legal issues all the time and will ask specific questions to obtain information. Sometimes they may interrupt, but do not be offended, they are only trying to guide you.
4. Be respectful of the lawyers time. If you are disorganized or late your consultation will not be as valuable.
Consultations may last between 15 minutes to an hour. Some lawyers charge for in-person consultations or longer consultations. The most important thing is communicating your case, so both you and the lawyer can make the decision to work together based on the most facts possible.
4. Retaining your Lawyer
When you have decided to hire a lawyer for your case, your lawyer should give you a written retainer or fee agreement. Read this agreement carefully before you sign, asking your lawyer questions if there's something you don't understand. The retainer agreement should list the expected legal work and the legal fees. After you have signed the retainer agreement, ask for a copy to keep for your records.
5. Your Lawyer's Responsibilities
Your lawyer is responsible for providing objective legal advice and ensuring that your legal rights are protected. Your lawyer should be ethical, have knowledge of the law, communicate with you effectively, keep your case confidential and remain loyal to you as their client. Your lawyer should keep you posted on the status of your case. Most of all, your lawyer should work towards your best interests.
If you have any questions about the information provided above, please
contact us
Call us or click here to get a referral to an Attorney Search Network panel lawyer or law firm.
