How to Retain a Personal Legal Counselor
- 1). Ask family members or friends if they can recommend a legal counselor for you, and check with your state bar association to see if it has a referral service.
- 2). Arrange a meeting with a recommended attorney. Ask if you must pay a fee for an initial consultation. Ask the attorney about her specialty area and how much she charges for her services, and if she was ever disciplined by her peers or suspended from the practice of law. Interview several attorneys before you make a final decision.
- 3). Obtain a written agreement from the counsel you decide to retain. Read over the agreement carefully and ask the attorney about anything in document that is unclear. Make sure the agreement states the specific legal services you want from the attorney and the fees you must pay.
- 4). Pay the attorney's retainer fee. This is a down payment on the fee for an attorney's services. Negotiate with the attorney if you feel the retainer or the overall fee is too high. Some busy lawyers will not reduce their fees, but an attorney with fewer clients might be more willing to negotiate his rates.