Legal Consultation
An initial meeting between a prospective client and an attorney to evaluate the merits of a potential case and whether representation is appropriate.
A legal consultation is the first meeting between a potential client and an attorney. Many attorneys offer free 30-minute initial consultations, particularly in contingency-fee practice areas (personal injury, employment). For business and transactional matters, initial consultations may be billed at the hourly rate. A paid consultation with a specialist is often worth the investment before deciding whether to pursue a matter.
Come prepared: bring all relevant documents, organize a chronological timeline of events, write down your specific legal questions, and prepare a clear statement of the outcome you want. Attorneys need to assess the strength of your claims, the likely costs versus potential recovery, and whether the case fits their practice area.
Attorney-client privilege attaches from the consultation — even if you do not hire the attorney, the communication is protected. Be candid about weaknesses in your case; attorneys hear hard facts regularly, and knowing the downside early is how they evaluate risk. A consultation that concludes with a referral elsewhere or advice not to sue is still valuable legal guidance.
Real-World Example
After a 45-minute paid consultation ($200) with an employment attorney, the client learned that although her employer's conduct was unfair, it did not constitute actionable discrimination under federal law — saving her thousands in attorney fees on a claim that wouldn't succeed.