Practical note
Questions to ask before hiring
Choose the ones that matter to you. A good answer is usually specific and plain. These are questions about working with a lawyer, written by our editors. They are not legal advice.
Updated · AI research draft, human review pending
Draft for human review. This note was drafted by AI and no person has reviewed it. It covers the process of hiring a lawyer and is not legal advice.
About experience
- How much of your practice is estate planning?
- How often do you work with situations like mine?
- If something falls outside your experience, what do you do?
- How long have you been doing this kind of work?
About who does the work
- Who will actually do the work and be my contact?
- Will a paralegal or another attorney be involved? How?
- How quickly do you usually reply, and how?
- Who would handle my matter if you were unavailable?
About cost
- Is the first consultation free, and how long is it?
- Do you charge a flat fee or by the hour?
- What does the fee include, and what would cost extra?
- Will I get the fee and the scope of work in writing before you start?
- Do you offer payment plans?
About fee agreements and money
- Will you give me a written description of the work and the fee before I pay anything?
- If I pay in advance, where is the money held, and how is it applied as you work?
- If I stop the work early, how is any unused amount returned?
- What do you bill for beyond the main fee, such as calls, copies or travel?
- Will you tell me before costs change?
About timing and process
- How long does this usually take from start to finish?
- What do you need from me, and when?
- How many meetings should I expect?
- What happens to my file and my papers when the work is done?
- Do you offer any later check-ins, and do they cost anything?
About your documents
- Who keeps the originals, and where are they stored?
- How do I get a copy of my file later?
- How do I change a document later, and what would that cost?
- If you retire or close the office, how would I get my papers?
- Who should I give copies to, and who should not have them?
About access
- Can we meet by phone or video, or at my home if I cannot travel?
- Is your office step-free? Is there parking or transit nearby?
- Can you work with an interpreter or other language support?
- Can a family member or friend come with me?
About the record
You can check any lawyer's public status yourself, and you can ask about it directly. A lawyer should be able to discuss anything that appears there.
- Is there anything in the public record I should ask you about?
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