Affordable Lawyers
“Affordable” is a relative term, but it essentially means that the lawyer costs less than what other lawyers typically will typically cost their clients. Affordable lawyers are not pro bono lawyers. This means that affordable lawyers do not offer free legal help. Affordable lawyers will charge a fee but it can be substantially lower rate than the usual rate.
In the legal field, it is not common to find pro bono lawyers. You will likely need to attend a free legal clinic but it does not guarantee that you’ll get a pro bono lawyer. You need to qualify and adhere to the guidelines of the legal clinic’s program and even then, they may not have enough time or people to help.
How Lawyers Determine Their Price
The average lawyer in the U.S. can charge between $150 – $300 per hour. Keep in mind that lawyer consultation or assistance rates will depend on many factors, including the area of practice (criminal vs. personal injury), the complexity of the case, and the years of experience that the attorney brings. It can also depend on where you live, for example a lawyer in New York City will charge more than a lawyer based in a more rural location.
Some lawyers may charge on a flat fee basis for certain cases, but it will always depend on the attorney and the situation and they are not obligated to offer a flat fee service.
But there are hundreds and thousands of lawyers across the nation, and some of these lawyers may charge $100 per hour. This pricing is neither cheap nor free, but it is somewhat lower than the normal rates or what most lawyers typically charge their clients.
Another common form of lawyer pricing is called a contingency basis where attorneys earn a percentage of the settlement money after winning a case. This type of payment setup is usually applied to cases such as personal injury and is actually not allowed in other types of cases, like when settling a divorce or child support issues.
Is It Better Not To Have A Lawyer?
One of the major reasons why people don’t hire a lawyer is the cost. You have the option to defend yourself in court, but by doing so you are more susceptible to losing your case. So if you defend yourself in a criminal case, then you run the risk of facing jail time, or for a personal injury case you may be stuck with paying a huge sum of money to the other party.
Before hiring a lawyer, one thing to keep in mind is that the cost can be unpredictable as the length of a trial can be difficult to predict. That being said, consider hiring a newly licensed attorney or an attorney with a new practice.
Benefits Of Hiring A New Lawyer
New lawyers can be inexperienced, but a lawyer that passed the bar exam in their state means that they are qualified and able to navigate the law. In addition, new lawyers are determined to establish themselves in the business and can be knowledgeable about a wide variety of law as they recently graduated from law school and took the bar exam. You can expect a new lawyer to focus on your case unlike a seasoned attorney who is preoccupied with piles of cases. New lawyers out there are still trying to prove themselves, thus you can expect them to dedicate their efforts to understand, learn, and resolve your legal issues. They are eager to show that they are capable of handling your case and can be willing to offer a lower fee for experience.
How To Find An Affordable Lawyer
There are various ways to find and hire the right lawyer for your case without breaking the bank.
- Manage Your Expectations – The skills of an affordable lawyer are not to be underestimated, however, you may want to slightly lower your expectations when hiring an affordable lawyer. It does not mean that your lawyer will be incompetent, but they might not be able to get back to you right away or be able to take your call for every concern you might have.
- Affordable Lawyer Is Better Than No Lawyer – Your chances of succeeding in your case is higher when you have a lawyer, even if they are not as experienced as you would like. Having legal assistance is always a welcome option especially if you are in a complicated and serious situation. If the government will offer a free lawyer, like in a criminal case, then you should accept the offer. There are various means in finding an affordable lawyer such as your local bar association, family referral, or online lawyer portals.
- Get Help As Soon As You Can – It is often difficult to find a lawyer due to several factors such as money, the number of available lawyers in your area, and the lawyer’s relevance to your case.
All you have to do is to present your case and in minutes you can assess a lawyer’s profile, and then meet up with the attorneys matched to your case to find out which one is right for you. Start your search below.
