Can you talk to another lawyer if you already have one?

There are ethical rules that prevent lawyers from speaking to someone who already has an attorney. Generally, if you’re shopping around for new representation, the new lawyer will ask to see a copy of the letter you sent firing your old attorney. Keep that copy handy when you start looking to hire someone new.

Can you hire a new lawyer in the middle of a case?

There are also sometimes additional costs connected with hiring a new lawyer. If you hire a new lawyer in the middle of a case, that lawyer will need to get up to speed on the case and that will likely cost you some more time and/or money.

Is it illegal to talk to an attorney when you already have?

It is not illegal to speak to a different lawyer if you already have one (2nd opinions are okay and sometimes encouraged and required), the attorneys don’t want to be scene as interfering in an existing attorney client relationship.

Do you need to hire the most expensive lawyer?

You definitely don’t need to hire the most expensive lawyer you can find, but hiring solely based on cheap rates is a major mistake. When you hire me, you get me. The buck stops here. I’m the only lawyer in my office, and I never pass clients off to other attorneys.

Do you have to pay for a new lawyer?

However, if your lawyer had been working on a contingency or percentage fee basis, you may be required to pay the lawyer’s hourly rate for time already spent on your case, plus any costs and expenses to date. There are also sometimes additional costs connected with hiring a new lawyer.

There are also sometimes additional costs connected with hiring a new lawyer. If you hire a new lawyer in the middle of a case, that lawyer will need to get up to speed on the case and that will likely cost you some more time and/or money.

It is not illegal to speak to a different lawyer if you already have one (2nd opinions are okay and sometimes encouraged and required), the attorneys don’t want to be scene as interfering in an existing attorney client relationship.

What should I ask before hiring a new attorney?

Ask whether your new attorney will take responsibility for getting your files from your old attorney, or whether you should handle that. If you are a party to litigation, confirm that your new lawyer will notify the court as to your change in representation. When you meet with new lawyers, don’t bad-mouth your old one.

However, if your lawyer had been working on a contingency or percentage fee basis, you may be required to pay the lawyer’s hourly rate for time already spent on your case, plus any costs and expenses to date. There are also sometimes additional costs connected with hiring a new lawyer.