Like it or not, at some point in your life you will need to hire the services of an attorney. Whether you run a small business, buy a house, or need to get divorced, some situations require it and make using a lawyer a necessity. Moreover, while the truth about hiring attorneys is that it will always cost you a lot of money, there are a few ways of making some savings. In today’s guide, we are going to go through some excellent techniques and tips you can use to reduce your legal fees by a significant amount. Let us take a closer look.
Negotiate fees
First, do not make the same mistake many people make when approaching a legal firm. You have all the power to choose them – and it is up to you to interview two or three different firms to make sure you get the best choice for your circumstances. You can negotiate anything, including help with the law, so ask your lawyer about prices, alternative fee arrangements, or offering flat fees. Moreover, if you still cannot agree on a price, look elsewhere – at some point, you will find a team willing to take on your case.
Find new, hungry lawyers
You cannot beat experience, but when it comes to the law, you certainly have to pay for it. However, if you have a new firm in town, think about approaching them to see if you can get a deal. May new lawyers want to build good names for themselves, and when they are just starting out are so hungry for success they may give you a significant discount. Of course, it all depends on the nature of your case – it needs to be attractive to them and to their careers. Nevertheless, it is possible to find these lawyers and get a better deal about your legal fees.
Prep your own documents
The more you do for your lawyer, the less time they spend on organizing your case. So, listen to what they need, prepare it for them on a legal document prep service such as LegalZoom or ReadySetLegal, and it can really make a difference to your fees. Also, be prepared to work for your case. Your lawyer might get you to collect evidence on their behalf, for example, or you could offer your services to plow through documents and highlight relevant information. The more you do, the less you will have to pay – it is as simple as that.
Think about the bigger picture
If you are trying to win compensation in court, you have to remember that paying for a better service can often result in a higher award. There are other things to consider, too. For example, according to The Roth Firm, it is a good idea to hire lawyers that have experience of working on the ‘other side.’ These attorneys will have a more thorough understanding of how insurance companies work and know many of the tricks of the trade that the opposite side will try to play. Ultimately, you will find that a reputable law firm with a lot of relevant experience in accident cases like yours will cost a little more – but the payouts will be significantly bigger.
Research, research, research
There are vast legal resources out there that anyone can access. Sites like Lawyers.com and ExpertLaw all have a lot of easy-to-read facts and information about every area of the law. Google Scholar is another useful resource, although the legal terminology used can often make it impenetrable for the average person. Ultimately, you could find yourself learning enough to represent yourself. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that you should only ever do this when the case you are involved with is simple and easy – and legal complications should be passed on to a decent lawyer.
Swap services
Finally, it is important to remember that lawyers are businesses, and need different services to survive, from marketing to cleaning. If you can offer any of these services as a trade, why not give it a go? Maybe you could do a year’s worth of SEO on their website in exchange for helping you with your case. Alternatively, you could offer to do their books. There are no guarantees, of course, but bartering is still a useful tool that you can use to lower your legal fees. Bear in mind that you are more likely to enjoy success by approaching solo practitioners or small firms – larger law companies are likely to have all these services in-house.
