Law societies in most jurisdictions often have a referral network as well. How quickly you need a lawyer has the greatest impact on the selection process. Urgency may not only reduce the quality of your choice and the corresponding results obtained, but rush legal services are often significantly more expensive. The single most important factor in obtaining the lawyer that is best for you is the time available to select him or her. Thus, it would be best to look for your lawyer before the services are absolutely required.
Lawyers mostly bill by time or flat fee.
Contingency fees may also be used where allowed by a jurisdiction. Disbursements are amounts spent on the client s behalf that require reimbursement. Disbursements include courier charges, photocopying and court fees, but the list is endless. You hire lawyers for their time, not their photocopiers. Lawyer and law firm fees vary greatly.