When searching for a South Bend attorney, one of the first questions to ask is if you will be charged a fee for having the attorney review your case. A consultation normally consists of an initial meeting with the South Bend attorney. During this meeting the attorney will normally review any documentation related to your case and ask some simple questions regarding the facts of the case. While Sweeney Julian offers free case reviews, not all South Bend attorneys will take the time to review cases for free, so know what is expected of you before you meet with your attorney or otherwise have your case reviewed.
There are several reasons why a South Bend attorney may or may not charge a fee for initial case review. Some firms or attorneys may even charge a fee only under certain circumstances – and those circumstances may change frequently – making it that much more important to ask about initial charges. The reasons for charging or not charging for an initial case review may be as simple as individual preference. One South Bend attorney may feel the need to charge for his or her time, whatever work may be done during that time, while another may feel that an initial meeting does not warrant a fee.
Another reason a South Bend attorney may or may not charge a fee for the initial case review is reputation and recognition. By not charging an initial fee for case review, some attorneys may be attempting to establish themselves as fair while also available to those in need of representation. Other South Bend attorneys may charge a fee to establish themselves as an attorney that is worth hiring and knowledgeable in their area of the law.
The practice area itself may also be a deciding factor in whether or not a South Bend attorney charges such a fee. Lawyers who work on a strictly hourly basis may need to charge an initial fee to avoid spending several days a week working for free on new case reviews. A South Bend attorney who works mainly on contingency fees may not feel the need to charge up front for case reviews.
Finally, a South Bend attorney may or may not charge a fee for the initial case review based on how busy the attorney is with his or her existing case load. An attorney with many cases may charge a fee to avoid spending valuable time on case reviews that may or may not be legitimate claims. This same South Bend attorney may waive the initial fee if many cases have recently settled or otherwise been closed. In these times, the attorney may have extra time and will look to re-fill the case schedule.
Whatever the reason for charging or not charging an initial fee, you, the client, should always ask about such fees to avoid surprise bills arriving in the mail or multiple bills if you have spent time with several attorneys to find the right South Bend attorney for your case. The Sweeney Julian website offers an easy way to begin your case review. Simply click on “FREE CASE REVIEW” at the top of the web page and enter your information. Under the case description, offer as many details as you can on the type of case and the events that occurred. Sweeney Julian will contact you regarding your case.
