Is There Any Charge or Fee to Discuss My Case with a Lawyer?

Some law firms will charge you a consultation fee to discuss your case, while others will offer it for free. If a law firm does charge for consultations, they may use a fixed rate or charge their normal hourly fee. Most initial consultations do not involve a direct conversation with a lawyer; rather, a representative from the law firm will speak to a prospective client.

Some people prefer to work with lawyers who offer free consultations because they are unsure if they even have a case. A complimentary consultation can help them determine the merit of their case and get an idea of how the law firm can help them.

What Will We Discuss During A Free Consultation?

During an initial consultation, prospective clients will usually detail the events of an accident or another situation leading them to consider taking legal action. A representative from the law firm may ask them questions about what happened to help get a better understanding of their potential case.

Some of the things a prospective client may learn through a consultation include:

• The likelihood of their ability to take legal action
• How much it will cost to hire a lawyer
• The worth of their potential case
• Which types of damages they may qualify for
• How a lawyer will handle their case
• How soon they a lawyer can start building their case
• What the legal process will be like as a whole

An initial consultation may not result in definitive answers, since the law firm does not have all of the evidence for their case at that time. However, it can give the prospective client an idea of what to expect going forward. If you do not have the makings of a case, a consultation may offer the necessary closure a person seeks for their own peace of mind.

How to Prepare for Your Initial Consultation

In order to get the most out of an initial consultation, it is important to have as much information about your accident or situation as possible. If you have any documents, such as a police report or a denied insurance claim, have them ready when you make the call. Sometimes, it helps to write down how the accident or situation happened ahead of time so that you remember important details to discuss.

Additionally, try to make your legal consultation your first order of business before discussing the accident with insurers or the potentially liable parties. It can help protect your right to take legal action and prevent you from saying anything that may harm your claim for compensation.

Lawyers Who Work on Contingency

Once you have completed your initial consultation, you will want to know what the law firm will charge for representing you. Some law firms charge by the hour, and others work on a contingency-fee-basis.

The latter arrangement means that they do not charge upfront costs, and they only take their payment if they secure compensation on your behalf. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), most lawyers who work on contingency will take between 33 to 40% of the compensation they recover.

Some people prefer law firms that work on a contingency-fee-basis because it minimizes the financial risk of taking legal action. Attorney’s fees can become expensive, and you cannot predict how many hours of work your case will require.

Court Costs

Additionally, lawyers who do not work on a contingency-fee-basis will not assume your court costs if your case has to go to trial—you will be responsible for those. Court fees can accumulate quickly, and just like attorney’s fees, there is no way of estimating how much they will cost ahead of time.

If your case faces a lengthy trial period, you could end up spending more money taking legal action than you would prefer. This instance demonstrates the advantages of working with a law firm that charges on a contingency-fee-basis. For some victims, it is the only way they can know with certainty that they can afford legal representation, allowing them peace of mind when taking legal action.

Our Attorneys Provide Free Consultations to Help You Determine Your Legal Options

You have nothing to lose by taking advantage of our complementary consultation. So give High Stakes Injury Law a call today to discuss your potential case.

Call us at (702) 707-5934 or complete a Free Case Review form.