Legal FAQ

Attorney fees vary significantly by practice area, experience, and location:

• Hourly rate (general): $150–$500/hr for most attorneys; $600–$1,000+/hr for top litigators in major metros
• Personal injury: Contingency fee — no upfront cost; attorney earns 33%–40% of settlement
• Estate planning: $800–$3,000 flat for a basic will and trust package
• Family law retainer: $2,500–$5,000 to start; total cost depends on how contested the case becomes
• Criminal defense: $1,500–$5,000 for misdemeanors; $10,000–$50,000+ for serious felonies
• Business attorney: $200–$400/hr or flat-fee packages for incorporations, contracts, and standard agreements

Always ask for a written fee agreement before work begins. Reputable attorneys are transparent about billing.

A contingency fee means the attorney only gets paid if you win or reach a settlement. There's no upfront attorney fee — making quality legal representation accessible for injury victims who can't afford hourly billing.

How it works:

• Attorney earns 33%–40% of the total recovery (higher percentage if the case goes to trial)
• Case expenses (filing fees, expert witnesses, court reporters, investigators) are typically advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the settlement
• If you lose, you owe no attorney fees — but you may still owe out-of-pocket expenses

Contingency arrangements are standard for: personal injury, car accidents, slip and fall, workers' compensation, medical malpractice, and some employment cases.

A retainer is an upfront deposit placed in a client trust account. As work is performed, the attorney bills against the retainer at their hourly rate. When the retainer is depleted, you replenish it. The retainer is not a flat fee — it's a deposit toward future hourly billing.

Flat fees are a fixed price for a defined scope of work: drafting a will, handling an uncontested divorce, reviewing a contract. These provide cost certainty and are increasingly common for routine matters.

Always confirm the fee structure in writing. Your engagement letter should clearly state: hourly rate (or flat fee), billing increment (6-minute vs. 15-minute minimums matter), what's included, and how disputes are handled.

Always hire an attorney for:

• Any criminal charge (misdemeanor or felony)
• Divorce involving children, property, or significant assets
• Injury caused by another party's negligence
• Business formation, contracts over $10,000, or employment agreements
• Estate planning (especially if you have real estate, retirement accounts, or minor children)
• Immigration applications and status changes
• Serious employment disputes: wrongful termination, discrimination, wage theft

For small claims under $10,000 with simple, clear-cut facts, self-representation may be feasible. But when the other side has a lawyer — or the stakes are high — representation almost always produces better outcomes.

Use these methods, in order of reliability:

1. Referrals — Ask someone who used an attorney for the same type of matter. A family law attorney referral from a friend who went through divorce is worth 10 online reviews.
2. National Law Connect — Browse bar-verified attorneys by practice area and city. All listings are verified for current, active bar status.
3. State bar referral service — Most state bars operate attorney referral services with initial consultation discounts.
4. Online research — Read reviews, look for a track record in your specific issue (not just "general practice"), and check for any disciplinary history.

Schedule at least 2–3 consultations before deciding. A good attorney fit matters as much as credentials.

A free consultation typically runs 30–60 minutes. During this meeting:

• The attorney will ask about your situation and assess the legal issues
• They'll explain potential approaches and their fee structure
• You'll have a chance to ask questions

Bring: any relevant documents — police reports, medical records, contracts, correspondence, prior court orders. The more organized you are, the more useful the consultation.

The attorney is evaluating your case; you're evaluating the attorney. You're not obligated to sign anything that day. It's normal — and smart — to consult 2–3 attorneys before choosing one.

Every state has a public attorney lookup tool through the state bar association. Search: "[state name] bar attorney lookup"

You can verify:

• Current license status (active, inactive, suspended, disbarred)
• Date of admission to the bar
• Any public disciplinary actions, suspensions, or reprimands
• Practice areas listed (some states track this)

This takes about 2 minutes. All attorneys on National Law Connect are pre-verified with their state bar — but it's still worth checking independently for your own due diligence.

1. Ensure safety — Move vehicles if possible; call 911 for injuries
2. Document everything — Photos of all vehicles, damage, road conditions, injuries, license plates, and surroundings
3. Exchange information — Other driver's name, license, insurance, and phone number
4. Get witness contacts — Anyone who saw the accident
5. File a police report — Even for minor accidents; it creates an official record
6. Seek medical attention — Even for pain you think is minor; delayed treatment hurts claims
7. Do NOT admit fault — Don't apologize or speculate about what happened
8. Consult a personal injury attorney — Before giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer; consultations are free

Timeline depends heavily on injury severity and case complexity:

• Minor accident, clear liability: 3–9 months to settlement
• Moderate injuries, contested liability: 9–18 months
• Serious injuries (surgery, permanent disability): 1–3 years
• Cases going to trial: Add 1–2 years to the above

A key principle: don't settle until you've reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). Settling too early — before you know the full extent of your injuries — permanently closes your claim. Your attorney should advise you on timing.

The statute of limitations is the filing deadline for a lawsuit. Miss it and you permanently lose your right to sue, regardless of how strong your case is.

Common deadlines (vary by state):

• Personal injury: 2 years in most states (some states 1 year, some 3)
• Medical malpractice: 2–3 years, with discovery rules in many states
• Wrongful death: 2 years from date of death in most states
• Claims against government entities: Often much shorter — 6 months in some states

Don't wait. Consult an attorney well before the deadline. Evidence gets harder to gather over time, and attorneys need lead time.

Technically, you can file an uncontested divorce without an attorney — many states provide standard forms. However, attorney review is strongly recommended if:

• You own real property together
• Either spouse has retirement accounts (QDROs require separate legal orders)
• There are children involved
• You have significant joint debt
• There's a meaningful income or asset disparity between spouses

A $300–$500 limited-scope consultation to review your settlement agreement can prevent costly errors that surface years later — especially around retirement accounts and child support calculations. For genuinely simple situations with no property and no children, DIY can work.

Custody has two components:

• Legal custody: Who makes major decisions (education, medical, religion). Joint legal custody is the default in most states.
• Physical custody: Where the child lives day-to-day. Can be joint (shared schedule) or primary with one parent, with visitation for the other.

Courts use a "best interests of the child" standard. Key factors: stability and continuity, each parent's involvement history, proximity to school and activities, the child's preference (especially for teens), and any history of abuse or neglect.

Most custody disputes are resolved by agreement between the parties. Contested custody hearings are expensive and hard on children — experienced family law attorneys work to reach workable agreements first.

A misdemeanor is a less serious criminal offense, typically punishable by up to 1 year in county jail and fines. Examples: DUI first offense (most states), shoplifting under a dollar threshold, simple assault, disorderly conduct, possession of small amounts of marijuana in states where it remains illegal.

A felony is a serious crime punishable by more than 1 year in state prison. Examples: robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, grand theft, murder. Felony convictions carry lasting collateral consequences: loss of voting rights (some states), prohibition on firearms, professional licensing issues, and difficulty finding housing and employment.

Hire an attorney for any criminal charge. Even a misdemeanor conviction can have real consequences on employment and immigration status.

A public defender is a government-employed attorney provided free of charge to defendants who cannot afford private counsel. Public defenders are typically experienced criminal attorneys — but they carry extremely high caseloads (often 100–200+ active cases) that limit how much time they can devote to any single case.

A private criminal defense attorney is hired directly and typically has more time for investigation, pre-trial motions, and negotiation strategy. For serious felonies, the additional attention a private attorney can give your case often justifies the cost.

If you qualify for a public defender but can afford private counsel, private representation is generally worth the investment for charges that could result in incarceration.

Estate planning is the process of deciding what happens to your assets and dependents when you die or become incapacitated. Core documents:

• Last Will and Testament: Distributes your assets, names guardians for minor children, specifies final wishes
• Revocable Living Trust: Avoids probate, provides more control over asset distribution
• Durable Power of Attorney: Authorizes someone to manage your finances if you're incapacitated
• Healthcare Directive / Living Will: Specifies your medical wishes and end-of-life preferences
• HIPAA Authorization: Allows family members to access your medical information

Without these documents, state intestacy laws control your assets — which may distribute them very differently than you'd choose. Anyone with assets, minor children, or specific healthcare preferences should have a basic estate plan.

A will only takes effect after death and must pass through probate — a public court process that takes 6–24 months and costs 2–5% of estate value in fees. It is a public record.

A revocable living trust takes effect immediately, bypasses probate entirely, keeps distribution details private, and is more flexible for complex situations (blended families, real estate in multiple states, special needs beneficiaries).

Costs: A basic will runs $300–$800; a full trust package runs $1,500–$3,500. For estates over $300,000, or any situation with real property or complex family dynamics, a trust typically pays for itself in probate savings alone.