A consultation with a lawyer in Maryland is an appointment a person has with a lawyer licensed to practice law in Maryland to discuss a legal issue that the person has. A person might want to get legal advice from a lawyer about any number of things.
However, some of the common reasons that lead a person to consult a lawyer are the need for a will and estate plan, possible dissolution of their marriage and related issues, their involvement in a car accident, possible bankruptcy, or business-related lawsuits.
The consultation might be a first meeting to discuss the person’s issue of concern, or it might be a meeting that takes place in the course of the lawyer’s representation of the person in connection with a specific legal issue.
What Is Discussed at a Legal Consultation?
If the consultation is the first meeting of a person and a lawyer, they will discuss the legal issue that brought the person to the lawyer’s office. The lawyer may be able to answer a person’s questions about their problem in this initial consultation.
But often, a person needs continuing representation. For example, if a person suffered a significant injury in a car accident that was caused by the negligence of another person, they may need to file a lawsuit. In this case, the attorney and client might discuss the terms by which the attorney would provide representation to the client.
Of course, one of the terms would be how the attorney would be paid, whether in the form of an hourly fee billed monthly, a contingency fee, or a flat fee.
But that would not be the sole issue. The attorney and the client would also want to discuss how the case would proceed and what next steps the attorney would take. They would discuss what the attorney’s role would be, and what the client’s role would entail. A client would also want to understand what the result of the attorney’s representation would look like.
If the client were to hire an attorney to represent them, they would want to have a clear understanding of the terms of the relationship. It would be best to have those terms in writing.
If the meeting were to happen later in the course of a lawyer’s representation of a client, they might discuss the most recent developments in the client’s case. They might prepare for a court hearing or a trial. Or, if the lawyer has created an estate plan for the client, they might review it together. They could discuss any aspect of the lawyer’s representation and the client’s issue.
Is My Legal Consultation Confidential?
A licensed attorney in Maryland must respect the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct in their dealings with their clients. These rules expressly state, in part, that a lawyer may not reveal information relating to the representation of the client, specifically information about the client and their legal problem.
There are a few exceptions. The lawyer may reveal information if the client gives the lawyer their informed consent. Or, if disclosure of the information is authorized by implication because it is needed to carry out the representation, the lawyer may disclose it.
There are other technical exceptions. Perhaps the most important one is that a lawyer may reveal information if the lawyer reasonably believes that it is necessary to prevent death or substantial bodily injury that is reasonably certain to occur. So, basically, if a client were to tell their lawyer that they plan to harm another person and the lawyer were to take the threat seriously, the lawyer would be able to notify law enforcement of the threat.
If a client is concerned about the confidentiality of a legal consultation, the client may certainly ask the lawyer for assurance that their communications are confidential.
What Are Some Questions to Ask During a Lawyer Consultation?
Again, as noted above, a client would want to ask about the consultation fee for the initial meeting and how and when it should be paid. If the client hires the attorney for continuing representation, they want to be sure they understand how and when the attorney is going to be paid. The client should have that information in writing.
The client wants to understand clearly what service the attorney is going to provide for them and what the result should be. So, for example, if a person hires an attorney to file for bankruptcy, they want to know that the attorney is going to represent them through to the end of the bankruptcy process and at what cost.
If the attorney is going to prepare and file a lawsuit for them, they should ask what the result might be. They should hear an honest assessment of their chances for success and the strengths and weaknesses of their position.
Generally, a person should ask whatever questions they have. And they should ask questions until they have a clear understanding of the terms of their relationship with their attorney. They also want to ask the questions they have about the process that would follow for their case. They should not be afraid to ask any questions they may have.
Are Lawyer Consultations Free?
Some attorneys may offer an initial attorney consultation for free. However, no attorney is likely to offer continuing representation for free unless they are working with a non-profit, charitable organization that offers representation to people free of charge.
Another situation in which an attorney might not charge a client for their representation is if the attorney is a public defender in a criminal case whom the state government pays to represent a defendant who cannot afford to hire an attorney to defend them.
In any situation other than these two, an attorney would expect to be paid for their representation.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
How much an attorney charges in Maryland is going to vary depending on many factors, as would be true anywhere in the U.S. Attorneys in the densely populated cities of Maryland, e.g., Baltimore, are generally going to charge more than attorneys in the more remote rural areas of the state.
Again, as noted above, attorneys generally charge differently in different types of cases. For example, an attorney might charge a flat fee for a straightforward personal bankruptcy case or to draft a will. They might charge an hourly fee to represent a client in a business-related lawsuit, and they may charge a contingency fee in a personal injury lawsuit.
In addition, the final charge for a case depends on the facts and circumstances of each case. Some cases require more of an attorney’s time and entail higher expenses than other cases. For example, if a case requires the contribution of expert witnesses, the client would have to pay the cost of hiring the expert, as well as other costs.
Should I Contact an Attorney and Schedule a Legal Consultation?
If you have a legal problem, you should not hesitate to schedule a consultation with a local attorney in Maryland. In most cases, the fee would be affordable for most people. It is possible that your questions about your problem could be answered in one consultation. Or, if your issue requires continuing representation by a lawyer, the consultation would help you understand your next steps and what the lawyer can do for you going forward.
One great option is to present your case to a LegalMatch.com attorney who lives in your area. The service is completely confidential and costs nothing. If you need continuing representation, your attorney responds with an offer to represent you that comes with a complete attorney profile, details on their fee structure, their background, and ratings from other LegalMatch users. With this information, you should be able to decide if the attorney is the one for you.
