The right to full fee disclosure. Hiring an attorney means contracting for his or her services. You may shop around and bargain over fees. There s no set fee schedule in the legal profession. You also should know that it s unethical for a lawyer to charge an unreasonable fee.
Some lawyers charge nothing for an initial consultation.
You may want to ask about initial fees before you discuss your problem. Either way, the lawyer should tell you all the facts about the billing procedure. For example, if the lawyer requires a retainer, you should ask whether the retainer is a down payment on future billing or is nonrefundable as a fee for taking the case. Any contingent fee agreement must be in writing. Certain types of cases, such as divorce or criminal, can t be taken on a contingency basis.