Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer
The questions you ask before hiring a lawyer determine whether you get good value or an expensive surprise. Budget-conscious Brooklyn consumers should treat the consultation like an interview. Below are the questions worth asking every attorney you consider, grouped by what they reveal.
Questions About Experience
- How many cases like mine have you handled in the past few years?
- Do you focus on this practice area, or is it one of many you take on?
- Have you handled matters in the Brooklyn or wider New York courts where mine would be heard?
- What outcomes are realistic for a situation like mine?
You are not looking for guarantees. You are looking for relevant, recent, focused experience that justifies the fee.
Questions About Fees and Costs
- What fee structure do you recommend for my matter, and why?
- What is your best estimate of the total cost from start to finish?
- What expenses are separate from your fee, such as filing fees or expert costs?
- How and how often will you bill me, and will invoices be itemized?
- If you require a retainer, is the unused portion refundable?
Clear answers here let you compare quotes fairly. Vague answers are a warning sign. See our legal fees guide to interpret the responses.
Questions About Who Does the Work
- Will you personally handle my case, or will associates or paralegals do most of the work?
- Can lower-cost staff handle routine tasks to keep my bill down?
- Who is my main point of contact?
Knowing who actually touches your file affects both cost and quality. Sometimes having capable staff do routine work is a feature, not a downgrade.
Questions About Communication
- How will you keep me updated, and how often?
- How quickly do you typically respond to calls or emails?
- Will you explain decisions before making them?
Communication problems are one of the most common complaints about lawyers. Setting expectations now prevents frustration and wasted fees later.
Questions About Strategy and Timeline
- What are my options, including ones that do not involve going to court?
- What is the likely timeline for resolving this?
- What can I do myself to save time and money?
A lawyer who mentions cheaper or faster alternatives, such as negotiation or settlement, is thinking about your interests, not just billable hours.
Putting It Together
Ask the same core questions of every attorney so you can compare apples to apples. Bring this list to your first consultation, take notes, and then run your finalist through our hiring checklist before signing.