Free Consultations

Written by Patrick Russell
Posted in Client Center - Frequently Asked Questions

Free Consultation Myth

The Purpose of a Free Consultation

Everyone has seen or heard a commercial for a law office in which a "free consultation" is offered.  In fact, you probably cannot go a day listening to the radio without being exposed to commercials for claims involving asbestos, bad drugs or personal injuries that offer free consultations. The problem however is that these advertisements have fueled a new expectation amongst consumers who are looking for legal help.  Essentially everyone that contacts a law firm now requests and expects a "free consultation" regardless of the area of law involved in the problem.  More troubling is the expectation by consumers that "free consultation" means free legal advice.  At the end of the day, that is now exactly what most consumers have come to expect when they contact a law office concerning a legal problem.  I cannot tell you how many times a prospective client has contacted my office and during the first telephone call was baffled and in some instances angry that I would not provide them with an opinion and solution to their legal problem.

Looking at it logically, the expectation of clients that a "free consultation" means "free legal advice" stems from a misunderstanding of what the purpose of the initial consultation is with a lawyer.  At the end of the day, the true purpose of a free consultation is to gauge whether there is a mutual interest between the client and the lawyer to work on a legal problem.  The client is to assess the experience and skill of the lawyer while the lawyer is to assess the legal problem and whether the lawyer can handle the issue.  In some instances the lawyer may look briefly into the merits of the client's claim to identify issues and problems, but certainly the lawyer is not at this stage providing legal advice or legal services.  Does the client like the lawyer?  Does the lawyer like the client and case?  At it's core, that is the purpose of the "free consultation".

Looking at it practically, I think all clients should understand that free legal advice cannot be given or expected.  First off, remember you get what you pay for.  Free legal advice over a ten-minute telephone call is not as a practical matter going to be very well analyzed or thoroughly researched.  It is just not possible.  Secondly, why should there be an expectation that a client is entitled to free legal advice?  Why should lawyers work for free?  Are you willing to work for free?  Would a client offer to work in the lawyer's office for free?  Probably not.  Do you really want to hire a lawyer that provides all of his advice for free?  Would hiring even be necessary?  Finally, if a lawyer is spending all day providing free legal advice, how can you ever expect that same lawyer to be working on your case?

In the end, we need to get back to the basics and have reasonable expectations.  A lawyer cannot nor should solve your problem for free over the course of a short introductory telephone call.  Rather, the client should be more focused on asking that same lawyer what his or her experience and skills are to help solve the client's legal problem.  That would be my free advice.

Should you need help assessing whether this office can help you with a legal problem involving Florida Business Law, Florida Contracts, Florida Debt Collection, Florida Evictions, Florida Insurance Law, Florida Personal Injury or Florida Real Estate Law, please do not hesitate to contact us so we can discuss our experience, skills and the way we work at Russell Law.