No, I haven't done anything illegal and I'm not getting a divorce, but I have a couple different things going on in different areas and I'm thinking maybe I should look into a lawyer. I know a couple of you are in the legal "biz", or have or have had lawyers yourselves. I don't know anything about it – can someone have a multi-purpose lawyer, or do you need different lawyers for different things? Like someone to defend/represent you when you are part of a legal battle, but also represent you when you sign papers for a financial obligation or secure a patent, things like that? Is it expensive or are they like real estate agents and you only need to pay them when something goes down and they get a percentage of whatever the spoils are? Is the best way to get one to do a google search and pick the first firm that comes up and call them? Or is there a better way or more trustworthy resource? Have I been watching too many movies and tv shows where someone always seems to have trusted legal counsel at their fingertips and says things like "I need to talk to my lawyer"?
Ok, I am not 100% sure how things work in the US, but in my limited experience, lawyers do specialise in certain areas but should have a working knowledge of other areas of the law. I would imagine a moderately sized firm of lawyers will have access to specialists in different fields and hopefully, stop you from having to pay for multiple people. I do know some people who keep lawyers on retainer in the states and I'll ask them some questions to give you a better answer.
There are specialists and there are general practice attorneys. It really depends on the specific nature of your issue whether you need a specialist or not.
Fees are usually hourly, which can be very expensive. Anywhere from $100-$400 per hour and the work will probably take more hours than you think. Some jobs can be done for flat fees, often wills or trusts, things like that.
If you are involved in a civil lawsuit seeking money damages, you can get a lawyer to take you on for a contingency fee--you pay nothing unless they win the case, in which event they take their fee out of the settlement or judgment.
I think the best way to find a lawyer is to ask your friends and family for recommendations. You can also contact your local bar association and they will refer you to someone. Or you can use a website like https://www.martindale.com/ (https://www.martindale.com/) (better than just a Google search). After you get a name or two you can then research them further. Some lawyers may offer free consultations for the first meeting just to help you decide. Good luck! Ask if you have any followup questions.
Back when my cousin' dad was suing me over my grandparents' estate, I had a lawyer who would call me at almost any hour of the morning, day, evening, and talk to me, and a few times even sent me texts at what I'd say were after-hours. She did this unasked and unannounced, and would do it to report any news at all or ask questions or....sometimes it felt like she was dialing me up to chat about nothing. AND SHE BILLED ME FOR EVERY CALL! Not just that but she billed in increments of time that definitely rounded up, not down. Even when I wouldn't take her call she'd leave long voice mails....and bill me. She was a good enough lawyer, I think, in court, her firm had a good reputation, but I never liked her doing that and I was never sure if it was ethical or legal, but....I never did anything about it beyond saying to her a few times, "Couldn't this wait for our meeting?"
And she'd say, "No, it really couldn't."
No freebies with that attorney.
Anyway, just throwing that out there as something maybe to be careful of, because she charged me a lot of money, chipping down her retainer that way. That whole matter was sickeningly expensive and gave me the idea she knew the dollar amount I was getting from my grandpa's will, and was trying to get as much of the cash part as she could. Maybe that's usual, maybe not, I have no idea.
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I am not in immediate need, but want to be prepared if/when the time comes. The thing is, my friends and family don't even have these kinds of resources - if they did I wouldn't have posted here! Ha!
ER - That's EXACTLY what I'm worried about! I'm afraid even inquiring about a lawyer will make them assume I am in a certain dollar bracket to handle being sprinkled with expenses, when I'm totally not. Like "free consultations!" ...free for the first 11 seconds.