Of course, some good clients cannot afford legal fees or can afford only reduced fees. They should be identified as such and they should still receive professional services. Pro bono work should be viewed as a professional gain, rather than a monetary loss. Learning whether the client has been dissatisfied with others' legal services is important. Consult public and third-party resources to learn about judgments, credit histories, newspaper articles, and the like before entering into substantial engagements, and before deciding whether you need a retainer fee or other security for a representation.
Retainers come in several varieties.
Such fees must be reasonable in amount and must be clearly denominated for availability rather than for particular services. Retainers are most commonly advances against unearned fees, and must be deposited in a trust account and withdrawn only as they are earned. Recognize that there is an inherent conflict between attorney and client in setting fees. Reasonable fees, good work, and good clients often mute this conflict. There is often no perceived tension.