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What Can You Expect When You Consult With and Hire an Attorney?

Prior to consulting with an attorney, you probably have received their name and reputation from another attorney, family member, coworker, a friend, or researched them on the internet. When you call the attorney’s office and set up an initial consultation with the attorney, you can expect to be quoted an initial consultation fee that you will be charged at the consultation. You will be told the price of the fee for a certain amount of time to consult with the attorney. Most attorneys accept cash, certified check or credit cards. You should find this out when you set the consultation.

Once you meet with the attorney, you should feel free to ask the attorney further questions about their qualifications. During the consultation, the attorney will discuss your case with you. At the end of the consultation, the attorney will ask if you wish to hire that attorney. If you do hire the attorney, make sure that the attorney has you sign a retainer agreement in order to avoid any confusion regarding the costs and the attorney fees for representation. The retainer agreement should clearly state the fees, the costs, and the intent of the parties to the agreement.

When you sign the retainer agreement, the attorney will require an initial nonrefundable retainer. As stated above, the retainer agreement should detail this with specificity. The Retainer Agreement should detail the retainer amounts, the attorney’s hourly rate, the paralegal’s hourly rate, and the costs associated with the case. At that time that you sign the retainer agreement, you will be asked for a refundable cost retainer also. The cost retainer is used for the filing fee, the summons and any specific costs associated with the case. Each case is unique, so there may be other costs associated with your case.