What Does it Mean for a Lawyer to be On Retainer? Law Offices of Anthony R. Scifo – 2155 Point Boulevard – Suite 220 – Elgin – Call 847-628-8311
What Does it Mean for a Lawyer to be On Retainer?
You’ve probably heard of lawyers being “on retainer.” It basically means that a client pays their lawyer a set fee on a regular schedule. In exchange, the lawyer provides legal services whenever their client needs them. Retainers are usually a useful arrangement for businesses that need ongoing legal work. Or, individuals who may need recurring legal services may want to consider a retainer arrangement.
If you are considering the appeal of having an attorney on call, it’s helpful to first think about the specifics of your legal needs:
-Why will you need an attorney and What Does it Mean for a Lawyer to be On Retainer? With the exception of a significant accident, most people will only need the help of an attorney every few years or so. If this applies to your situation, an attorney on a retainer might not make financial sense.
-Check out your employee benefits. In the event you work for a large corporation or belong to a union, on-call legal services might be included in your benefits. These lawyers can handle the majority of conventional legal needs like wills, certain litigations or real estate transactions. Paying a retainer for other legal services if you have them already usually won’t make financial sense.
What Does it Mean for a Lawyer to be On Retainer? – A general retainer is a fee paid to a lawyer for a set length of time rather than for a particular project. The retainer is essentially paying the lawyer to be accessible for questions on legal issues during this period. For example, you might want an employment lawyer on retainer if you need help dealing with matters that arise with employees.
