HOW CAN I CREATIVELY AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER?
Hiring a lawyer can be expensive, but there are ways to creatively afford their services. Here are a few ideas:
Negotiate a payment plan: You can ask the lawyer if they have a mechanism to offer an extended payment option through their network of vendors or business relationships. My office offers this through LawPay. This allows you to pay for their services over time, rather than up front.
Consider alternative fee arrangements: Some lawyers may offer alternative fee arrangements, such as a flat fee. A flat fee is a set amount for the entire case, while a contingency fee is a percentage of the settlement or judgment that you are destined to receive. Contingency fee matters can pose a great risk to your attorney in the financial sense. They must be a business-savvy lawyer, too! Firstly, is a contingency fee ethically permitted in the case type? What are the percentages that you WILL win? Even after a win, what are the chances that payment will be made in full? What are the chances that the other side may take an appeal? Will the costs and experts required to win exceed the amount collected?
Use legal aid services: Legal aid organizations provide free legal services to low-income individuals. You can check with your local legal aid organization to see if you qualify for their services.
Crowdfunding: If your legal issue is something that others may be passionate about or if you have a compelling story, you may be able to raise funds through crowdfunding platforms to help pay for legal fees.
Bartering: You may have skills or services that a lawyer needs. You could consider offering to trade services in exchange for legal representation if the service values are monetarily equal. This may have tax consequences–so factor this into your arrangement.
Remember, it’s important to have legal representation for certain issues. Don’t let finances prevent you from seeking the help you need!
