Alternatively, you may think that you are the only person in the world that has your problem which is not true. In a civil dispute, you may also feel that you are clearly right and you have done nothing wrong. Always discuss with your lawyer both the weaknesses and the strengths of your matter. Although you should shop around for a lawyer be sure that you do not choose a lawyer solely based on price. Since all lawyers are not alike, the cheapest is not always the best.
Most lawyers operate on an hourly basis.
Lawyers keep track of the amount of time that they spend on your file. This information should be provided to you when you receive your invoice. However, in some matters a flat fee is almost impossible to give because it depends on how the other party acts and on many factors beyond the control of the lawyer. The money deposited in a lawyer's trust account does not belong to the lawyer. The lawyer is holding on the money for the people who are entitled to the money.