Although legal clinics are usually available at local universities, it is still sometimes difficult to affordable legal services. Here are some tips to help you even if money is tight!
- See if you qualify for pro bono or reduced-fee services from a lawyer.
There are lists of people who offer pro-bono (free) and reduced affordable legal services at most law schools, local bar associations, and other community organizations. Some lawyers will even meet with you for an initial consultation free of charge to determine whether or not they can represent your case at a discounted rate. If the lawyer agrees to take your case, he/she will usually work out a settlement without going to trial that reduces their fees quite a bit. It’s important to ask the attorney what his/her hourly rate is and the total payout so that you understand how much your legal services will cost you. - Try to resolve your dispute out of court.
Legal cases can be expensive, and one or both sides often cannot afford to go the distance. However, it may be possible to settle your disagreement out of court with the help of a mediator (free) or a judge (usually only costs about $20-$30). If you are still unhappy after attempting mediation, see if you qualify for free or reduced-fee legal services. Again, ask the lawyer exactly how much your case will cost to ensure that you understand his/her fees before making any decisions about whether or not to hire him/her as your representative. Also, consider whether it might be better for you financially to represent yourself in small claims court if you qualify. - Negotiate down as much as possible before hiring a lawyer.
This is especially important to keep in mind if you can’t afford to hire your attorney for the entire duration of your case and only plan to hire them for their legal advice or negotiating services. If you pay by the hour, then it’s in the best interest of both you and the attorney that he/she spends as little time on your case as possible since this will reduce his/her fees. Unless you have lots of money and would prefer to use a lawyer than do it yourself, talk with your legal representative about ways that you might be able to settle the dispute so that he/she has less work to do on your case. For example, the lawyer may be able to send an email on your behalf or write up a settlement agreement that you can then negotiate yourself with the other party before presenting it to them. - Watch out for hidden costs!
Although some lawyers will charge by the hour, many instead choose to charge you a percentage of what they win for you (usually between 20-40%). If this is the case, make sure that he/she tells you how much they think your legal fees will cost so that there are no surprises later on if their fee gets added onto your compensation at the end of the case.
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