How Much Does it Cost To Talk to a Lawyer?
The first lawyers were referred to as orators. They were the “friends” of people who found themselves in trouble with the law and would speak up on their behalf. These orators were forbidden to take any money for their support. That all changed when Emperor Claudius made advocacy legal and allowed those advocates to get paid.
Since then, lawyers have been charging their clients fees that are based on that lawyer’s skills and experience. How much does it cost to talk to a lawyer? It depends on the lawyer you’re talking to and the type of case.
Fees Attorneys Charge
There are three primary billing structures attorneys use when taking on cases, which any prospective lawyer you may be planning to work with should proactively discuss with you when scheduling your consultation or meeting with you for an initial case review. Those fee structures that attorneys most commonly use include:
An Hourly Rate
Lawyers may charge a baseline fee at a specific hourly rate. That fixed number will be assessed for any work the attorney performs on your behalf, including responding to emails and phone calls. Those fees do sometimes increase for a trial appearance.
A Contingency Fee
An attorney handling personal injury cases will often work on a contingency fee basis. That means the attorney will only get paid a pre-agreed-to percentage of the total amount of the final settlement award if they secure an award on your behalf.
The attorney-client agreement you enter into with your legal representative will also detail any additional charges that might be assessed, which are typically nominal charges, like court filing, postage, and photocopying fees. In other words, there should be no surprises when you receive your settlement statement from them.
Pro Bono
In some rare cases, some attorneys will take on cases on a pro bono basis, meaning they agree to represent a client without the expectation of them paying any fees for their services at all. This type of representation often occurs as a charitable cause or outreach effort, as attorneys generally have to perform a certain amount of pro bono legal services annually to maintain licensure. Additionally, lawyers may work pro bono when handling a high-notoriety case in exchange for the free media attention it affords them.
Understanding What Illinois Law Says About Lawyers’ Fees
The Illinois Supreme Court has specific rules pertaining to what an attorney can charge a client. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 1.5, in particular, is the high court’s section on fees. It says, “A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses.” It then goes on to list the many factors that determine what a reasonable fee might be.
What To Know About Fees for Initial Consultations With Attorneys
Generally, an initial consultation with a personal injury attorney is free. The same may also be true with the first case review with attorneys specializing in other practice areas, but not all of them.
The reason why this initial meeting is oftentimes free is because it serves as an opportunity to see if you have a good rapport with that attorney. It also allows the lawyer to see if your case has merit.
When you accept the offer of a free consultation, you want to make the most of that session by asking the lawyer any questions you’ve compiled.
How Experience Impacts Fees Attorneys Charge To Meet With Them
There are a few different factors that can impact how much lawyers charge for their services, whether they bill on an hourly or contingency fee basis, the most important of which is experience.
Attorneys will have areas of practice that they specialize in. An experienced personal injury lawyer should have experience with a range of accident scenarios, such as car crashes, truck wrecks, motorcycle collisions, or slip-and-fall accidents. They could also be well-versed in Illinois cases involving medical malpractice, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation.
Of course, if an attorney specializes in a different area of the law, they may have different experience handling specific types of cases, ranging from the relatively straightforward to more complex matters. The latter may call for a lawyer to have more specialized knowledge or a work history, meaning their fees (hourly or contingency) are a bit elevated over other options.
Factors such as geography, whether a case is definitely slated for trial, and others can also have an impact less on how much it costs to initially talk to a lawyer, but play a deciding role on how much they charge as well.
Getting Answers Regarding Your Injury Case
If you’ve been seriously hurt in a personal injury incident in Murphysboro, you want to set up that first consultation with the Prince Law Firm. We are standing by to answer your questions for free. Call to set up a consultation today.
