Many business matters are charged according to hourly rates. On a retainer basis, where an individual or business employs a lawyer by giving him or her a down payment toward the fee for specified legal services. In return for the retainer the attorney will work for you on any matter for which you may need his or her services. Additional costs may be added to the final bill for services involving extra time and effort from the lawyer. Always request that your lawyer give a receipt to you for the advance on the fee.
Some lawyers use a combination of fee arrangements.
In your first meeting with a lawyer, you should discuss how much your legal work is going to cost and how it is going to be paid for. You need this information to make an informed decision about how to proceed. Often, a lawyer cannot tell you exactly what the total charge will be because it is hard to estimate how much work is going to be involved. But lawyers can usually estimate the minimum and maximum limits of the fee for that particular work, or give you some idea of the problems involved and the time that will be required. The timetable for paying legal fees depends on arrangements between you and your lawyer.