What is an Initial Consultation?
An Initial Consultation is a free/unpaid 15-30 minute call between a client and a lawyer. They are used to meet a new client for the first time and assessing how/if you can help them with their legal hurdles. These calls default to 15 minutes, but if you believe the call will lead to substantive work, you can extend the call for up to 30 minutes.
You will meet a majority of your clients through an Initial Consultation. Clients are very hesitant to book a Fixed-Fee-Service without a free consultation first. They usually want to confirm experience with their industry, pricing & timing, and personality fit.
NOTE: Clients can book their Lawyers for free calls at their leisure. It is left to a Lawyer’s discretion to communicate with their client to set up paid services or legal advice.
What is the Purpose/Scope of an Initial Consultation?
In Scope
15-30 minute phone call with the client, which can include:
- Get to know each other (and your business) and assess if it's a good fit
- Follow-up quotes and suggested legal services
- Using to check in on ongoing files for quick chats that do not require a whole hour-long strategy session.
- Scoping additional work; or
- Answers to narrowly focused questions about ongoing work;
Out of Scope
- Review of any agreement or other business document (see Contract Reviews);
- Completing legal research or providing a formal written legal opinion;
- Negotiations or 3rd party communications; or
- Nuanced or lengthy scoping calls.
Goodlawyer does not tolerate clients abusing the availability of no-charge Initial Consultations. If you encounter a client abusing them, please get in touch with CX.
Key Takeaways About Initial Consultations
▶️ Initial Consultations are 15-30 minute calls between clients and lawyers.
▶️ Lawyers should use Legal Strategy Sessions to answer clients’ complex questions.
▶️ If the client requires additional work, Quote the Legal Service through the Platform.
▶️ Bill every Initial Consultation Session right after completion.
▶️ Lawyers are NOT expected to answer nuanced questions or provide substantive Legal Advice during an Initial Consultations Session.
▶️ If there's a document involved, book a Contract Review.
▶️ If a Consultation looks like it will take more than 30 minutes, move them to a Legal Strategy Session.