Should Attorneys Offer Free Consultations?
One of the issues that family law attorneys discuss and debate is whether or not to charge potential clients for initial consultations. This is a subject that my partner and I have wrestled with on and off over the years and that we continue to struggle with today. Attorney Christopher Pearsall from Rhode Island recently discussed this issue at his blog, as follows:
If you’ve ever needed a Rhode Island attorney, you have probably searched for one who offers a free consultation. This week I reluctantly discontinued offering a free consultation as a Rhode Island lawyer for practical reasons.Everyone wants a bargain and it’s great to get things for free, yet time is what we as attorneys get paid for . . . time and expertise in the law. Unfortunately, costs keep running even during free consultations.
I can’t begin to tell you how many hours I have spent and how much free advice I have given only to have to pay for the expenses of heat, light and rent for that very same time. In the end, it all comes down to numbers. Bills need to be paid and food needs to be put on the table.
Ultimately any good business person who has an ounce of common sense would take the steps necessary to eliminate counterproductive aspects in their business and increase productivity. If this means eliminating my ability to offer a free consultation as a Rhode Island lawyer in order to maximize my law practice, then it is certainly in the best interests of all my clients to do so.
Have I had a few people who have turned away the consultation because of the nominal fee I charge? Absolutely! Some people won’t do anything if it’s not free. Yet here is the fantastic thing I learned about my choice to discontinue the free consultation. I eliminate my wasted time. I weed out the tire kickers who simply want my legal advice for free . . . And best of all. . . I maximize my time in such a way that I can keep my rates as low as possible for my clients.
Ultimately my elimination of the free consulation as part of my Rhode Island law practice has benefited all those who choose to use my services.
Do I regret that people do not see the true value they get from a consultation of $50? Not at all. Anyone who has done their homework will know the value of an experienced attorney. I could charge $200 an hour for my services and still might be undervaluing what I do for my clients. Yet if you were to get 30 mins. of quality legal advice from me for only $50 so that I could cover my bare costs, who has reaped the biggest reward . . . . you or me?
In the end, I still think it’s me. You’ve helped me cover my costs. You’ve trusted me with advice on an important issue in your life. You’ve allowed me to help you and that’s precisely why I’m here. Do you have a legal issue or question that is weighing on your mind? Do you need some legal guidance but you don’t want to drain your bank account? I’m here to help.
As you can see, this is a very complex issue, with good points on both sides. I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on this subject, whether you are an attorney or a layperson, and I invite my readers to submit thei comments to this article. Thanks in advance.
Source: "The Disappearance of the Free Consultation!" by Christopher Pearsall, published at his Providence Rhode Island Legal Solutions blog.
Ben, Yes, yes, and yes is my answer. An important reason to charge for a consult, in my opinion, is because that consult sets up the attorney/client relationship and precludes the spouse from hiring you. There are litigants who visit many attorneys they have no intention of retaining, just to cause a conflict when the spouse tries to obtain competent counsel. Does charging for a consult turn business away? No. The client knows you value your own time. The adage you get what you pay for may not be entirely applicable, as some fine attorneys may not charge simply out of a mistaken notion that their practice will suffer if free consults are not offered. I strongly believe we all have an obligation to the profession to do pro bono work and professional development. But, we can choose to whom to give our services, and my preference is to give that time to persons or organizations that are in need or where it can have the msot impact. Diana
Ben, Yes, yes, and yes is my answer. An important reason to charge for a consult, in my opinion, is because that consult sets up the attorney/client relationship and precludes the spouse from hiring you. There are litigants who visit many attorneys they have no intention of retaining, just to cause a conflict when the spouse tries to obtain competent counsel. Does charging for a consult turn business away? No. The client knows you value your own time. The adage you get what you pay for may not be entirely applicable, as some fine attorneys may not charge simply out of a mistaken notion that their practice will suffer if free consults are not offered. I strongly believe we all have an obligation to the profession to do pro bono work and professional development. But, we can choose to whom to give our services, and my preference is to give that time to persons or organizations that are in need or where it can have the msot impact. Diana
Speaking as a divorce lawyer who is also a certified family law specialist with 25 years experience, I can no longer see the point of free consultations. I make my living by helping people solve their problems. People don't expect to consult with a physician for free. Why should they expect to consult with an attorney for free? How is it any different?