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Legal issues are extremely diverse. There are so many issues that surround the litigation process. In order to sail through legal issues, legal representation is critical. But legal representation comes at a fee. How much fee should one pay when hiring a lawyer? The cost of hiring a lawyer is dependent on various elements. Voiceglo lists them below:

1. A lawyer’s level of experience

The number of years a lawyer has been in practice dictates the cost charged. The more the experience, the higher the cost of hiring a lawyer. This is because an experienced lawyer is associated with high levels of intellectual capacity in different legal areas. An experienced lawyer’s services are also demanded more making the cost higher.

2. The billing structure and category of the legal matter

The cost of hiring a lawyer is determined by the billing structure employed. The billing structure depends on the type of legal matter in question. However, news has that in some states, court fees are increasing even for civil cases as well. Anyhow, the usual billing structure when hiring a lawyer involves:

Hourly basis

This is a widespread method of computing how much a lawyer should be paid. The amount a lawyer receives is equivalent to the number of hours he/she dedicates to a case. Cases in which the cost is paid on an hourly basis include:

· Family law

· Estate planning

Contingency fee

This fee represents an agreed upon percentage of a settlement which the lawyer gets once a jury determines a case. In most situations, a lawyer receives a contingency fee only when a complainant wins a case. Common cases in which contingency fee is applicable are:

· Personal injury litigation

· Patent infringement litigation

Flat fee basis

In this case, the amount incurred by a lawyer’s client is paid in advance. The amount paid is fixed. It is not affected by the number of hours a lawyer spends on a case. A flat fee applies in scenarios where the litigation process is not complex. Such cases include:

· Corporate establishments

· Unchallenged divorce matters

· Trademark filings’

3. Location of legal services

The location in which a lawyer is situated determines the amount charged. In an urban setting, the cost of hiring a lawyer is high. In most cases, an hourly cost of $500 is charged. In a rural setting, the cost is relatively low and goes for approximately $200 on an hourly basis. A low clientele and little competition keeps the cost down.

4. The size and reputation of the law firm

Working with a lawyer from a law firm that is very big and has earned reputation and recognition as a credible institution is very costly. This is in contrast to hiring a lawyer from a small and less recognized law firm. Hiring a lawyer who practices independently would also cost less. If the nature of the legal issue is very diverse and involving, it is better to work with a lawyer from a big and renowned. As much as the cost of hiring may be high, it is worth it because adequate legal expertise will be rendered.

In conclusion, the cost of hiring a lawyer should be known prior to legal representation. The above discussed elements should be factored in in order to have comprehensive understanding of the total cost to be incurred. Hiring a lawyer is important whether you’re starting a small restaurant business or if you’re caught in a divorce case; lawyers that practice family based law at Arthur Duke are a good choice of legal representatives.