Do I Need To Pay In Full For A Lawyer To Take Up My Legal Malpractice Case?
May 25, 2020
As much as people want to get the best legal representation, they don’t always consider that cheap things are expensive. Again, not every costly thing is necessarily the best either. Most of the time, you will find clients rushing to get that lawyer who will offer them the lowest amount possible. While it may be good to consider the legal fees being charged, you should also consider the services being offered. You should make sure to go through your written fee agreement document to ensure you understand everything it contains. This also applies to legal malpractice attorney contingency, there must be an agreement. This agreement states the amount the lawyer must be paid and other related issues.
Should I Pay My Lawyer Before Knowing Whether I Have A Legal Malpractice Case?
Most of the attorneys who are willing to sue your original lawyer must request a retainer fee. This is to help them evaluate your records and determine whether there is a case. Why is this the case? There are so many factors that your legal malpractice lawyer needs to take into account, which may be impossible to be completed within your initial consultation. Again, you will also find out that the new attorney will charge a higher amount compared to your former lawyer. Besides, they will be more work compared to what was being done in your original case. Remember that this is a case in a case where the legal malpractice must be proven. If your new attorney request for the retainer’s fees, you have the choice of whether to accept or reject if you’re not comfortable with that idea. If you decide to pay, you should ensure to pay attention to the below factors:
- Type of attorney fee agreement: Depending on the technicality of your case, a lawyer may decide to charge on an hourly basis or flat fee. The common type is the contingency fee basis.
- Periodical intervals or the billing cycle: Your attorney may either bill you after every quarter or per month. Others decide to collect up the whole amount when the bill reaches a specific limit.
The methods used to determine the fees to be charged depend on several factors. For instance, an experienced legal malpractice lawyer tends to charge more compared to those with less experience.
How To Be Sure Your Attorney Will Charge You Reasonably
The fees being charged by your lawyer are tied to many considerations. Some of them include:
- The level of experience
- Services being offered
- Technicality and time take to handle your case.
You should always ensure to read your fee agreement to avoid surprises. The idea is to understand the attorney’s fees before engaging a lawyer to offer you services. Though lawyers are not cheap, you should look for the one who meets your needs. You only need to know the balance between excellent lawyering and premium pricing. You can do this by considering the complexity of your matter.
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