How Can a Red Deer Lawyer Assist Me?
Red deer lawyers may be able to benefit you by:
- Appearing as your counsel
- Representing you in any pleading for use in judicial proceedings
- Drafting wills, deeds of settlement, trust deeds, power of attorneys, or any other document relating to probate letters of administration or the estate of a deceased person
- Representing you under any document relating to proceedings under an Act of Nunavut or an Act of Canada
- Settling any instrument relating to property that is intended, permitted, or required to be registered, recorded, or filed in a registry or other public office
- Drawing up any act or deed or negotiating for the settlement of any claim or demand for tort damages
- Agreeing to place at the disposal of any other person the services of a barrister or solicitor
Giving you legal advice
How Can I Prepare to Meet With Red Deer Lawyers?
If you are trying to find affordable lawyers in Red Deer, one of the most important things to know is that any communication between you and your Red Deer lawyer related to legal advice is confidential. Any legal advice between you and your lawyer cannot be shared with anyone else without your consent.
Red Deer lawyers must hold all information concerning you and your affairs that they receive during your professional relationship in strict confidence. Red Deer lawyers have a duty not to allow any other interests to impact their judgment, advice, or action on your behalf.
What Should I Talk About at My First Meeting With a Red Deer Lawyer?
If you are trying to find the best lawyers in Red Deer, use your first meeting to exchange information between you and the Red Deer lawyer.
Red Deer lawyers will want to know:
- The facts of your legal matter
- What you want to be accomplished
- If you have documents or other materials related to your matter
- The names of people involved to determine the existence of a conflict of interest. This information is protected by the attorney-client privilege.
- If another lawyer has previously dealt with your case
- If you can pay the estimated legal fees
You should find out:
- If you have a case worth pursuing
- If you are being realistic and reasonable in your expectations
- How much experience the lawyer has in your area of law
- What kind of legal options you have
- What the law is relating to your problem
- The likelihood of achieving a successful outcome
- What services the Red Deer lawyer will provide
What Should I Know Before Hiring Top Red Deer Lawyers?
When trying to find affordable lawyers in Red Deer, you should research the lawyer’s knowledge, skill, and area of expertise. Ask your Red Deer lawyer:
- How long have you been in practice?
- How many cases like mine have you handled before?
- How long have you practiced law?
- In what areas of law do you practice?
- Are you a partner or an associate?
- How much of your time is devoted to my particular problem area?
Next, when trying to find top lawyers in Red Deer, ask about their time restraints and level of accessibility:
- Do you have time to deal with my problem quickly?
- How quickly can I expect a resolution?
- How often can we meet?
It’s also essential to ask a Red Deer lawyer about costs:
- How much do you charge for your services?
- Approximately how much will your services cost me in total?
- Do you provide clients with a detailed statement of fees?
- Do you charge for the first meeting?
Where Can I Find an Affordable Red Deer Lawyer Who Specializes in Criminal/Family/Corporate Law?
You can use LegalMatch to search our attorney directory for information about lawyers in Red Deer. Our database provides information about a lawyer’s area of practice.
How Much Will it Cost Me to Hire a Lawyer in Red Deer?
There is no standard fee for legal services. Red Deer lawyers use many types of fees for their services.
The cost of having a top Red Deer lawyer represent you should be discussed during your first meeting. Lawyer’s fees should be fair and reasonable. Lawyer’s fees will be based on:
- The lawyer’s experience and skill
- The difficulty of the matter
- The time and effort it will take to complete the work
- The standard rate charged by other Red Deer lawyers of equal standing in similar matters and circumstances
Some common types of lawyers fees are:
- Fixed or flat fees: Fees that are charged for a certain type of legal work, such as a will or real estate transaction.
- Hourly rate fee: The rate a lawyer in Red Deer charges for services hourly. The rates may vary depending on the lawyer and the nature of the work involved. You will be charged according to the number of hours your Red Deer lawyer spends on your legal issue. This could include time spent on the phone, in meetings, conducting research, preparing documents, corresponding with others, appearing in court, or anything else involving your file.
- Retainer fee: A deposit made in advance to cover your early costs. Retainer fees are payments towards your final bill. As the work progresses, you may be required to pay another retainer to cover ongoing costs.
- Contingency fee: You will not be charged a fee until your case is settled. Contingency fees are typically a percentage of the money you as a client receive. If no money is recovered during your case, the lawyer collects no fee. However, the contingency fee agreement may require you to pay your lawyer’s disbursements regardless of the case’s outcome. Contingency fees are most commonly used in personal injury cases.
- Expenses: Expenses are paid for by your lawyer on your behalf. Expenses may include land title fees, court filing fees, courier charges, photocopying costs, and feeds paid for expert reports. Expenses are often referred to as disbursements. You are responsible for these expenses, and they will be included in your bill.
Find out from your Red Deer lawyer:
- The types of fees they will charge
- The basis for their charges
- An estimate, in writing, of the cost to conclude your legal issue, including costs in addition to legal fees
- If another lawyer or expert will be involved in resolving your case and how much they charge
- The cost of a retainer if one is needed
- What the lawyer’s percentage will be if services are provided under a contingency fee arrangement
- The likelihood of anything happening that may increase the cost to resolve your case
- How you will be informed if your cost increases due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances
- The lawyer’s billing schedule and when you are expected to make payments
- Your options for payment of fees and other expenses
- The cost of interest on overdue accounts
- Suggestions for keeping your costs low
A Red Deer lawyer will likely not be able to give you an exact price for their legal services during your first meeting. However, your lawyer should be able to provide an approximate amount based on the cost of resolving matters similar to yours. Be prepared for additional costs as the work proceeds on your case.
If your Red Deer lawyer does not already do so, you should request a retainer agreement with a written estimate for the services that will be provided, along with a fee agreement. These agreements will help to avoid disputes later on. Remember, all conversations you have with your lawyer about your legal representation are protected by the attorney-client privilege.
Sometimes, a Red Deer lawyer will give you a statement of account while your matter is ongoing. You may be expected to pay upon receiving the statement. In other cases, your lawyer will wait until your matter is resolved before billing you. You should discuss your bills with your lawyer and voice any concerns you have about the amount of the bill.
How Can I Find the Best Lawyers in Red Deer?
If you are trying to find the best lawyers in Red Deer, consider using LegalMatch. There is no fee to schedule a consultation. An attorney can assist you in determining your legal rights and options moving forward.