Saving Money on Legal Help

Emily Kaltman

September 19, 2013

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Whatever reason you have in hiring an attorney, it can be easier than you think to unknowingly overspend on fees and bills. It is rarely a surprise that hiring a lawyer can be an expensive task, so here are a few strategies and resources that can help you save money.

Do Preliminary Research

First and foremost, do a little background research. Websites and local law libraries will be able to help answer some questions at least before you walk into a law office. Remember, though, these sources of information that are not going to replace the sound legal advice of a licensed attorney. Laws often vary between jurisdictions and can get quite complex.

Check out Prepaid Plans

Prepaid legal service plans are another affordable option that may be available to you through your employer, credit union, or worker’s union. They are much what they sound like: you select a plan that includes some simple legal services and you pay one rate. Services may be things like simple will preparation, review of legal documents, discounts for in-network lawyers, access to a database of legal documents and forms, and/or brief office consultations. You will need to read carefully and see if your needs align with the services offered.

Pick the Right Attorney

After that, you should choose your attorney. Pick the right attorney for you, and take into consideration your specific legal needs (DWI? Divorce?) and seek a lawyer that you feel comfortable with. If you get a bad feeling from a lawyer, don’t hire that person. See if your lawyer actually expresses interest in your case and has experience in it. Also, try to avoid hiring a lawyer straight out of the yellow pages. Ask around and seek recommendations from peers. Look around for yourself or consult a legitimate lawyer directory.

Show Up Organized

If your legal issues have to do with a box full of receipts and papers, organize them before you go to your attorney. This will save them time and you money, because they won’t need to sort through the mess themselves. You don’t want to have to pay your attorney for something that you could have done yourself at home.

Be Aware of Fees

Always know the fee structure of your lawyer. Some attorneys will require an hourly fee while others will have a flat base rate. Others still will have different fee structures altogether. If you aren’t sure which your attorney uses, ask. You have the right to know! Also, it is very common for attorneys to charge for phone calls, court visits, and office visits. Be sure you’re clear on other fees and ask when you don’t understand what one means.

Cut Down on the # of Calls

While lawyers are happy to help, it can get expensive if you call multiple times in one day. Try not to call each time a question comes into your mind. Instead, try writing down your non-emergency or time-sensitive questions and compiling them into a list you can reference in one phone call so you can get them all out of the way in one fell swoop. If you are in a legal predicament that involves several members of one group, try to designate one person out of all of you to make the phone calls. That person is also responsible for telling everyone what’s going on so you can avoid getting charged for the same types of calls made by different people.

Seek out the Help of a Nonprofit

If you are a student or happen to be in more dire financial straits, there are options out there specifically for people in your situation.

Local law schools tend to provide free services or clinics for common legal problems.

Public interest groups are nonprofits that each serve a specific interest. They can assist you with issues ranging from discrimination to civil liberties.

Find out if your state has legal aid agencies, which are nonprofit groups that offer free legal services. Their services tend to be limited to things like family law, employment issues, immigration or domestic violence. You may need to fall under a certain income in order to qualify.

Stay in the know about your legal expenses by paying close attention. These strategies will help you keep a handle on your money.