Before prospective clients decide whether to hire a lawyer to help them with their legal issues, they will likely have an initial legal consultation. This is a meeting with the lawyer that provides both the potential client and the lawyer with a chance to decide if they are a good fit to handle the legal issue.
The lawyer will use the consultation time to determine if they will be able to competently and legally represent the potential client based on the information they are provided. It is important to be aware that having an initial legal consultation does not mean that the lawyer is officially representing the individual or that they have taken on their case.
An individual and the lawyer will sign a written representation agreement when it is determined by both parties that the lawyer will represent the client. An individual may be seeking an initial consultation for their legal issue. If so, they can contact local attorneys themselves or use an attorney referral service in Arizona to help them find contact information for local lawyers.
What to Expect at the Initial Consultation with an Attorney?
At the initial attorney consultation, an individual should expect to discuss their issue or question, how the lawyer will be paid, and the possible remedies that they may be able to pursue to help them resolve their case. What specifically will be discussed during the meeting will depend on the type of issue the individual is facing.
At the initial consultation, the potential client should ask how the lawyer charges their clients for their type of issue. There are different fee arrangements that may be used, including:
The potential client should always be completely honest with their lawyer. This is because that is the only way a lawyer will be able to determine if they can represent the potential client and determine what remedies the individual may be able to pursue.
Will My Legal Consultation Be Confidential?
Yes, an initial consultation with a lawyer is confidential. This means that an individual should share all of the information surrounding their issue, whether they think it will be helpful or harmful to their case.
Although the consultation will not form a lawyer-client relationship formally, what is discussed during the meeting will be held in confidence, as if attorney-client privilege had formed. Because of this, a potential client should provide their attorney with all of the facts and circumstances surrounding their case so that the attorney can properly evaluate the issues.
What to Prepare for a Lawyer Consultation?
Before going to an initial consultation with a lawyer, a potential client should ensure that they are properly prepared for the meeting by gathering all evidence and documents that may be relevant to their issue. It is important to bring everything related to the issue so the attorney can determine what will be relevant for the claim and what will not.
Documents that a potential client should bring with them may include, but are not limited to:
- Contracts: If a claim results from a contract dispute, it is important to bring copies of the contract and any documents related to the contract;
- Police or accident reports: Bring any police or accident reports that were created as a result of the incident;
- Property deeds: If an individual is involved in a property dispute, they should bring a copy of their deed or any documents related to the property;
- Employment records: If a claim involves an employment dispute, it is important to bring all employment records, which may include:
- employment contracts;
- employment agreements; or
- timesheets; and
- Other documents evidencing damages: It is important to bring any other evidence of damages, for example, medical records or expenses or any warranties or letters created by the other party.
What Are Some Questions to Ask During a Lawyer Consultation?
As noted above, each consultation will be different depending on the circumstances surrounding the individual’s unique legal issue. Examples of general questions that an individual may want to ask during their consultation include:
- The lawyer’s qualifications and background
- The fee arrangement that will be used
- Specific questions regarding their issue
Are Lawyer Consultations Free?
There are many attorneys who offer free consultations for potential clients. When an individual is contacting different attorneys, they can ask whether the lawyer provides these or not.
An individual could locate attorneys who offer free consultations. In this case, they may be able to have multiple meetings with multiple attorneys so they can determine who will be the best fit for their needs and budget. It is important for an individual to find a lawyer with whom they are comfortable working and sharing what may be intimate details about their lives.
If a lawyer does not offer a free consultation, they will charge a consultation fee. The fee for the consultation may vary based on the location, the legal issue, and the lawyer’s experience.
Typically, the charge for a consultation will be between $50 and $250 for a meeting that lasts between thirty minutes to one hour.
What Is Legal Advice?
As discussed above, the initial lawyer consultation or meeting with a lawyer does not form an attorney-client relationship. However, in some situations, the communication with a lawyer may form an implied attorney-client relationship, although there was not a signed agreement.
Legal advice is provided to an individual who seeks advice from a lawyer. The advice provided pertains to issues with the attorney’s competence, and the lawyer expressly or impliedly agrees to provide advice or assistance with the matter. If this type of legal advice is provided, an implied lawyer-client relationship may have been formed between a potential client and the lawyer, even at the initial consultation.
If, however, the attorney states during the meeting that the advice they are providing is not intended to form this type of relationship or should not be relied on, the potential client should consider the advice to be a pitch for their legal services. Comments made off the cuff or legal pitches are not considered to be legal advice and, therefore, cannot be used to show that a lawyer-client relationship was formed.
How Much Does an Attorney Cost in Arizona?
The cost of an attorney in Arizona may vary depending on numerous factors, including, but not limited to:
- The area of law in which the lawyer practices;
- The areas of law that the claim encompasses;
- The attorney’s level of experience;
- The attorney’s reputation;
- The difficulty of the case;
- The location where the lawyer practices;
- Different locations, such as different cities and states, have different cost averages;
- The amount of time that the lawyer estimates they will spend either pursuing or defending the lawsuit.
Typically, attorneys in Arizona will charge between $100 and $310 per hour. The average is around $270.
Should I Contact an Attorney and Schedule a Legal Consultation?
There are many advantages to consulting with a local attorney in Arizona for a legal consultation. A lawyer can evaluate your issue and represent your interests throughout the process if you choose to hire them.
LegalMatch provides potential clients with a database of lawyers who are ready to begin working on your legal issue. It is important to keep in mind that the initial consultation will not fully resolve your legal issue but will provide you with the foundation to begin resolving your claim.
