Legal Consultation in New Mexico

Legal consultations in New Mexico, also called attorney consultations, are the first meetings that lawyers and potential clients have where the individual decides whether to hire the lawyer, and the lawyer decides whether they can represent the client.

Having a legal consultation does not mean that the lawyer is agreeing to officially represent the individual they meet with or that they have agreed to take on the case. In order for an attorney to represent the individual, both parties typically have to sign a written representation agreement.

Before going to their initial consultation, the individual should gather anything they believe may be important in their case. The attorney will review everything they bring and decide what is and what is not relevant to their issue.

There are many different types of documents that may be important to bring to the legal consultation, including, but not limited to:

• A contract: If an issue involves a contract dispute, a potential client should bring a copy of the contract and any documents that are related to that contract;
• A police or accident report: If an incident or accident is the cause of an individual’s issue, they should bring the police or accident report that was created as a result of the accident or incident;
• A property deed: If the issue involves a property dispute, the individual should bring a copy of their deed or other property-related documents;
• Employment records: If the individual’s issue is based on an employment dispute, they should bring all of their employment records, which may include:
  • Their employment contract;
  • An employment agreement
  • Their timesheets;
• Other evidence of damages: Any other evidence of damages should also be brought to the meeting. This may include:
  • Medical records;
  • Receipts for various expenses;
  • Evidence of damage to property;
  • Warranties; or
  • Correspondence from the individual the client may sue.

What Will Be Discussed at a Legal Consultation?

If an individual is considering scheduling a legal consultation, they may be wondering what will be discussed during their meeting. There are many different issues that may be addressed, depending on the individual’s legal concerns.

Things that are commonly discussed during legal consultations include the facts and circumstances surrounding the individual’s legal issue and the fee arrangement the lawyer will use to handle the case.

There are different types of fee arrangements, including, but not limited to:

• A contingency fee
• A flat fee
• An hourly fee basis

The potential client should be completely honest with the attorney so that the attorney can properly evaluate whether or not they will be able to represent the individual. In addition, if an individual is not completely honest, the lawyer may miss being able to present certain defenses or try to head off certain negative issues before they are used against the individual in court.

Will My Legal Consultation Be Confidential?

Every legal consultation is confidential. Because it is a confidential meeting, an individual should be honest with the lawyer because the information shared will not be shared outside of the consultation.

Even though an attorney-client relationship will not be formally established simply by having a consultation, the information will be treated as though it is privileged and confidential and attorney-client privilege had been formed. An attorney cannot properly evaluate an individual’s case or the remedies they may be able to receive if they do not have all of the information related to the case, both good and bad.

What Questions Should I Ask During a Lawyer Consultation?

An individual may want to ask many different types of questions during the consultation. It can be helpful to think about them before the meeting and write them down.

Examples of topics an individual may want to discuss during their meeting include:

• The background of the lawyer;
• Whether they have any special education or qualifications;
• Whether they have handled similar cases;
• Whether they have experience in the local courts;
• The fee arrangement that will be used for payment; and
• Specific questions about their legal concern.

Initial consultations are very helpful for attorneys and potential clients who are determining whether they will be the right fit to resolve the legal matter.

Are Lawyer Consultations Free?

It is common for attorneys to offer potential clients free consultations because they are an excellent opportunity for both parties to make sure they can effectively work together. In some situations and for certain types of cases, attorneys will charge consultation fees for the initial meeting.

The attorney can also use the meeting to evaluate whether or not they will be able to represent the individual after learning of their issue and examining the evidence they bring. This first meeting often lasts between 30 minutes and one hour.

If an individual is unsure whether or not they will be charged for this meeting, they should ask the lawyer before they go.

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

The cost of hiring a New Mexico lawyer will vary depending on many different factors. One of the main factors is the fee arrangement the attorney uses, such as:

• Flat fee: This is one fee that is paid for a specific service, no matter how much time is spent handling it;
  • This fee schedule is commonly used for services such as providing basic legal advice or document preparation;
• Retainer fee: This is an amount of money that is paid by the client upfront;
  • It is usually treated as a deposit from which the attorney bills the client for the services they render on an hourly basis; and
• Contingency fee: The lawyer only gets paid when they win;
  • This fee arrangement is common in personal injury cases and other cases where a client may not have the funds to pay upfront.

The total cost of legal services may also vary depending on factors, including:

• The years of experience the lawyer has;
• The type of case being handled;
• The location, such as a large city versus a small town;
• The billing method the lawyer uses;
• The size of the law firm; and
• The competitiveness of the legal market in the area.

It is important for a client to be aware that, no matter the fee arrangement used, they may be responsible for payment of court fees, document preparation fees, and other associated costs. If a lawyer uses an hourly fee arrangement, they will often charge between $150 and $500 per hour, depending on their location and experience.

Should I Contact an Attorney and Schedule a Legal Consultation?

If you have a legal issue in New Mexico and need the assistance of a local attorney in New Mexico, it is important to schedule a legal consultation. A lawyer can evaluate your legal concern and, if you do hire them, represent you throughout the process until your issue is resolved.

If you use LegalMatch to find a lawyer, you will be able to submit your issue online for free in just a matter of minutes. You will receive responses from local member lawyers who are ready to begin work on your case.

It is important to be aware that the initial consultation will not fully resolve your legal matter. However, it provides an excellent starting point for you to begin the resolution process.