Legal Consultation in Virginia

An attorney consultation in Virginia is an appointment a person has with an attorney licensed to practice law in Virginia 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 drafting a will and estate planning, dissolution of their marriage and related issues, involvement in a car accident, possible bankruptcy, and business-related lawsuits.

What to Expect at the Initial Consultation with a Virginia Attorney?

Often, Virginia attorneys are willing to provide a prospective client an initial consultation for a low fee or possibly even no fee. The purpose is to determine whether the attorney offers the service the client needs at a price the client wants to pay. The attorney and prospective client would discuss the client’s legal issue and whether it is something that comes within the knowledge and experience of the attorney.

The client should also have a clear understanding of what the consultation fee is and how and when it should be paid.

The attorney may be able to answer a person’s question in the 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, 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.

Will My Legal Consultation Be Confidential?

A licensed attorney in Washington must respect the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct in their dealings with their clients. These rules provide, in part, that a lawyer may not reveal information that they learn through their attorney-client relationships as it is protected by the attorney-client privilege. In addition, they cannot reveal information that they learn in the course of a legal consultation with a client if the client has asked that it be treated as confidential.

Even if the client does not specifically ask that information be treated as confidential, the attorney should not reveal it if it would be embarrassing or if the revelation of the information would have an adverse effect on the client.

There are exceptions to the rule. A lawyer may reveal information in order to comply with a court order, or in their own defense to a criminal charge or in a civil case that a client may bring against the lawyer.

Another exception to the attorney-client privilege is if, in the course of the representation, the client tells the lawyer that they intend to commit a crime that could lead to substantial injury to a third party physically or financially.

There are other exceptions to the attorney-client privilege attorney. The rules are technical. However, a client should confirm, at the beginning of their consultation with their attorney, what they intend to discuss and that the consultation would be confidential. The attorney should be willing to confirm this for the client.

How Should I Prepare for a Lawyer Consultation?

To prepare for a consultation with a lawyer, a person should do a number of things. They may first want to note the questions they wish to ask the attorney about themselves and the attorney-client relationship.

They might want to ask the attorney to confirm that their consultation is confidential. They might want to ask the attorney what the fee for the consultation is. In some cases, an attorney offers an initial consultation for free or for a low fixed fee, e.g., fifty dollars. A person should confirm what the fee is.

A person should gather together any documents they have relating to the case. They should write down the questions they would like to ask so they do not forget them. They might make a list of people who would have knowledge of the incident or situation that is at issue in their case. A person wants to be ready to answer their attorney’s questions about why they are in the attorney’s office.

What Are Some Questions to Ask During an Attorney Consultation?

Again, as noted above, a client would want to ask about the fee for the initial consultation 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 the end of the bankruptcy process and at what cost.

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.

Are Attorney Consultations Free?

Some attorneys may offer an initial 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 will be 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 provide them a defense in a criminal case.

How Much Does an Attorney Charge in Virginia?

How much an attorney charges in Virginia is going to vary depending on many factors, as would be true anywhere in the U.S. Attorneys in the densely populated suburbs of Washington, D.C. in northeastern Virginia are generally going to charge more than attorneys in rural southern or western Virginia.

Again, as noted above, attorneys generally charge in different ways in different types of cases. An attorney might charge a flat fee for a straightforward personal bankruptcy case. 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 Virginia. In most cases, the fee would be minimal. 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.