In Alabama, any meeting between a lawyer and a person to discuss a legal issue is a consultation with a lawyer, as in all other states. The lawyer should be licensed to practice law in Alabama. Generally, a person meets with a licensed attorney because they are seeking legal advice.
A person usually has a problem of the type they think a lawyer may be able to resolve for them. For example, they may have too much debt and may feel that bankruptcy might be able to relieve them of some of their debt. Or a person may believe they need an estate plan and possibly a will. They may want a lawyer to create an estate plan for them.
Or a person may want to consult a lawyer about a new problem. Perhaps they run a business and need a new contract for suppliers. Or they have questions about which structure to choose for their business.
What Will Be Discussed at a Legal Consultation?
Of course, if a lawyer is providing the client with a service at the time of the consultation, they meet to discuss the status of the lawyer’s work. If a lawyer is drafting a contract, for example, they may meet to review it and determine whether it is complete and meets the client’s needs or if it requires changes.
If the lawyer represents a client who is currently engaged in a lawsuit, they might meet to discuss any number of issues, e.g., the status of the case. For example, the other party may have offered to pay a certain amount to settle the case.
The client may want to talk over the pros and cons of the offer with their lawyer and get their lawyer’s opinion as to whether the client should take the offer or possibly make a counteroffer. They may need to review documents the client has located that relate to their case.
If it is the first time the lawyer and the client have met, they will discuss the person’s legal issue and why the person has sought legal advice. They would discuss whether the lawyer provides the service needed to deal with the problem and, if so, how the lawyer would charge for their service. The person would know how the lawyer’s service is going to resolve their problem and possibly how long it might take to come to a conclusion.
Will My Legal Consultation Be Confidential?
As in every state in the U.S., licensed attorneys are bound by their state’s rules of professional conduct. This is true in Alabama, as in all other states. One of the most important rules that governs a lawyer’s conduct is the rule regarding confidentiality. Basically, this rule provides that a lawyer may not reveal any of the information about their client and the client’s legal affairs that the lawyer gains while providing legal services for a client.
In part, the rationale for this rule is that it serves the cause of the client if they are able to communicate fully and honestly with the lawyer even about matters that might be embarrassing or harmful to their legal interests.
There are two exceptions to this rule in Alabama, as follows:
- Preventing Imminent Death or Substantial Bodily Harm: A lawyer may disclose information they have obtained from their client if they believe it is necessary to prevent their client from committing a criminal act that would inflict imminent death or substantial bodily harm on a third party;
- Attorney-client Disputes: The lawyer might disclose information in order to defend themselves if there is a dispute between the lawyer and the client. A lawyer may also breach a client’s confidentiality in order to defend against a criminal charge or civil claim against the lawyer if it is grounded in conduct in which the client took part.
- A lawyer may breach a client’s confidentiality in order to answer claims in any proceeding in connection with the lawyer’s representation of the client.
In many other states, there are additional exceptions, some of a technical nature. However, the two exceptions noted above are the main exceptions in the state of Alabama.
A client who is concerned about the confidentiality of their discussions with their lawyer should ask the lawyer directly about the rule regarding attorney-client confidentiality.
What Questions Should I Ask During a Lawyer Consultation?
It would probably be a good idea for a person to write down the questions they have prior to the attorney consultation. That way, they do not become distracted and forget their questions as the meeting progresses.
If the meeting is the first legal consultation of a client with an attorney, they will begin by reviewing the facts of the person’s situation. Again, a person may want to prepare some notes about what they want to tell the lawyer so they do not forget key facts and are prepared to provide the lawyer with a complete introduction to the facts of their situation.
They would talk about the person’s legal issue and why the person has sought legal advice. They would discuss how the lawyer might be able to address the person’s issue and, of course, how the lawyer would want to be paid for their service. The person would know how the lawyer’s service is going to resolve their problem and possibly how long it might take to resolve it.
If the lawyer does not offer the kind of service that the client needs for their problem, they would want to ask the lawyer if they might refer them to some lawyers who offer the kind of service the person needs.
If the lawyer offers services that the client thinks promise the resolution they need for their problem, they might want to ask the lawyer about their qualifications and their experience with the type of case the client has. If the client should hire a lawyer to represent them, they want to have an agreement in writing that spells out all of the terms of their relationship.
Are Lawyer Consultations Free?
A lawyer and client may be meeting to discuss a matter on which the lawyer is working for the client, and the lawyer charges the client by the hour. In that case, the lawyer may well charge the client their agreed-upon hourly fee. If the lawyer is charging the client a flat fee or a contingency fee for their representation, there should not be a charge for any particular meeting.
Otherwise, for a very first consultation, a lawyer might not charge any fee, or they might charge a modest consultation fee, e.g. fifty dollars for a 30-minute meeting. Again, when a client calls to schedule their appointment, they should confirm whether there is a charge and if there is, how it should be paid.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
Unfortunately, the answer to the question of how much a lawyer costs is that it depends. The cost of a lawyer in Alabama is going to vary on the basis of a number of factors. For example, in the big cities of Alabama, e.g., Mobile, attorneys have higher costs and are going to charge more than attorneys charge in small towns.
Another key fact is the type of service the lawyer provides. An attorney might charge a flat fee for an uncomplicated divorce in which there are no children and no significant issues involving the division of property. They might charge an hourly fee to draft a business contract. Generally, lawyers want a contingency fee for their representation in a personal injury lawsuit.
An attorney who has built a reputation in a particular market is probably going to charge more than a younger, less experienced attorney who may not yet have a similar reputation. Or, an attorney may be known for their success in a particular type of case, e.g., medical malpractice, so they may expect to be paid more than an attorney who does not have a similar reputation in that particular kind of case.
An attorney may have lots of experience in a special type of lawsuit that few other attorneys handle, such as representing the victims of airplane disasters. This might entitle them to charge higher fees.
The characteristics of a client’s case may have an influence on the cost of an attorney’s representation. Some cases consume more of an attorney’s time and effort, so the cost might be higher. A case might also involve paying certain expenses. For example, if the input of an expert witness is required, the client would have to pay the cost of the expert’s consultation and possibly other costs as well.
Should I Schedule a Legal Consultation with a Lawyer?
If you have a legal problem and would like an attorney’s advice you want to consult a local attorney in Alabama. When talking to your attorney, you should be able to find out if they can offer a service that meets your needs.
You can present your issue at no cost to a LegalMatch.com attorney who lives near you. The service is guaranteed to be completely confidential. If you need representation, your attorney will provide you with an offer that comes with a complete attorney profile, details on their fee structure, their background, and ratings from other LegalMatch users. With this information, you should be able to decide if the attorney is the right fit for your issue.
