We have all been looking for ways to shave costs in recent months however there are some situations where you must exercise caution when saving money. One of those situations is when you seek legal advice. A good attorney can advise you how to proceed in certain circumstances that otherwise could land you in hot water legally or financially should you attempt to handle them on your own. Here are a few ways you can save some money without putting yourself at risk.

• Gauge what services you need in advance. With hourly rates ranging from a few hundred to a thousand dollars, hiring a lawyer is without question an expensive endeavor. For this reason it would pay for you to do a little research on your own before ponying up a retainer. You can then get an idea exactly what you need your lawyer to do and what work you may be able to shoulder yourself to save money.
• Understand that bigger isn’t always better. Depending on what legal advice you are seeking, you may be able to find a solo practitioner or small firm that can handle your case for much less than a major firm. In most cases due to the smaller overhead and structure of the smaller business you will see rates that are smaller as well.
• Look into resources on the Internet. The world wide web is an excellent place to find information on just about anything including legal advice. Simply type “free legal advice” in your browser and you will see there are many sites available that offer advice or forums to discuss legal questions. Of course as with anything on the Internet you should carefully consider the information you find, however in some cases you might find the answer to your question without having to physically retain a lawyer.
• Ask about flat rates. There are some lawyers or firms that recognize the convenience of charging flat fees for certain services. This makes it easier for both parties as you know what you will be paying in advance and the lawyer knows exactly what they are making for services rendered.
• Know what doesn’t require a lawyer. If you are looking to have certain legal documents drawn up you may be able to use a document preparer instead of an attorney. Remember document preparers are not lawyers (which is why it cost less money) and they are not able to give you legal advice or guidance. In states that allow document preparers to work independently of attorneys however you may be able to save money by using their services.

 In the end it is your decision which circumstances warrant hiring an attorney and how much you are willing to pay for certain services. Keep in mind that some situations are better handled by an experienced attorney familiar with the laws and your rights, making it a wise investment in the long run.

Tags: free lawyers, legal advice, saving money

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 7:05 am and is filed under tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.