Looking for a lawyer (but what do I search for?)

[tvguy]

yes they do free consultations. But an ethical attorney, whom you want a legal opinion from, isn’t going to read a severance agreement, give you a legal opinion for free, and hope you don’t sue them for malpractice either. Even a free legal opinion opens up an attorney for malpractice.

Not sure where getting sued got involved in this. Most lawyers offer case evaluation for free. They would have to read the severance agreement to determine if you need their services. If there is no further action needed, why on earth would they charge you? That would be unethical. Certainly if there is some complication, it could require legal services. Been down the severance path. 1 page, 3 paragraphs. Took the attorney 5 minutes to evaluate.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Sorry for the job loss. That’s difficult.

 

[Allison]

Not sure where getting sued got involved in this. Most lawyers offer case evaluation for free. They would have to read the severance agreement to determine if you need their services. If there is no further action needed, why on earth would they charge you? That would be unethical. Certainly if there is some complication, it could require legal services. Been down the severance path. 1 page, 3 paragraphs. Took the attorney 5 minutes to evaluate.

Your former employer does things much differently than a lot of companies based on the stories you have told us.

How is it you know what most lawyers do? It certainly isn't unethical to charge for reading a document no matter what opinion they offer on it.

 

[starry_solo]

Your former employer does things much differently than a lot of companies based on the stories you have told us.

How is it you know what most lawyers do? It certainly isn't unethical to charge for reading a document no matter what opinion they offer on it.

Plus, who has ever heard of a 3 paragraph severance agreement? Way back when I was a youngling (office assistant) and got laid off, even that severance agreement was 2-3 pages long....

 

[disneychrista]

Not sure where getting sued got involved in this. Most lawyers offer case evaluation for free. They would have to read the severance agreement to determine if you need their services. If there is no further action needed, why on earth would they charge you? That would be unethical. Certainly if there is some complication, it could require legal services. Been down the severance path. 1 page, 3 paragraphs. Took the attorney 5 minutes to evaluate.

Because they are providing you with a service?

 

[tvguy]

Because they are providing you with a service?

They provided you with an estimate of what service you might need. If you don't see that you need a service to modify or negotiate the document, why would they expect to be paid? Never have in my personal experience. And all those lawyers who advertise on TV very clearly say free consultation and case evaluation. If I get an estimate for any other service, it's free, unless I take them up on any service they recommend I need.

 

[Allison]

They provided you with an estimate of what service you might need. If you don't see that you need a service to modify or negotiate the document, why would they expect to be paid? Never have in my personal experience. And all those lawyers who advertise on TV very clearly say free consultation and case evaluation. If I get an estimate for any other service, it's free, unless I take them up on any service they recommend I need.

They expect to be paid because they are offering a professional opinion. Don't believe what tv lawyers with 1-800 numbers tell you.

 

[tvguy]

Your former employer does things much differently than a lot of companies based on the stories you have told us.

How is it you know what most lawyers do? It certainly isn't unethical to charge for reading a document no matter what opinion they offer on it.

Like I said I was never charged and been through that process a few times in my 42 years of working. I can only speak from my personal experience and the ads where attorneys promote free consultations.

 

[tvguy]

They expect to be paid because they are offering a professional opinion. Don't believe what tv lawyers with 1-800 numbers tell you.

I'm paraphrasing from a lawyers website, but this does a better job explaining my belief and experience better than I have about a consultation.

The Attorney will be giving you what is called a case evaluation. Basically, what this means is that an attorney will listen to you and make a determination of whether or not they can help you and then explain the cost to retain.

If they determine that you don't need their help, why would they charge?

 

[DLgal]

I'm paraphrasing from a lawyers website, but this does a better job explaining my belief and experience better than I have about a consultation.

The Attorney will be giving you what is called a case evaluation. Basically, what this means is that an attorney will listen to you and make a determination of whether or not they can help you and then explain the cost to retain.

If they determine that you don't need their help, why would they charge?

No decent lawyer is going to read your severance agreement for free just to tell you it's all good. Lawyers charge for their time. The ones who give you a "free" consultation do so because they stand a pretty good chance of a lucrative payout.

We had a lawyer recently give us a 30 minute free consultation meeting, but it was VERY general, and it was more HER telling is what she could do for us. We did retain her services, but before she would even accept any paperwork from us, we had to pay 50% of the rate she charged for the service she was providing us, as a retainer fee (that deposit was nonrefundable if we changed our minds, by the way, and was $1700).

 

[seshat0120]

I'm paraphrasing from a lawyers website, but this does a better job explaining my belief and experience better than I have about a consultation.

The Attorney will be giving you what is called a case evaluation. Basically, what this means is that an attorney will listen to you and make a determination of whether or not they can help you and then explain the cost to retain.

If they determine that you don't need their help, why would they charge?

I have over 15 years in the legal industry. Key word there is that they will listen. They are not going to read a severance agreement and offer a legal opinion for free (unless they're doing the work pro bono). So, basically you'd go in and tell them you need an opinion whether a severance agreement is on the up and up. They'd tell you they can read it and give you their legal opinion. Your free consultation has ended. Anything beyond that is going to be billable hours. It's also highly doubtful you'd be leaving that consultation with the opinion.

 

[Allison]

I have over 15 years in the legal industry. Key word there is that they will listen. They are not going to read a severance agreement and offer a legal opinion for free (unless they're doing the work pro bono). So, basically you'd go in and tell them you need an opinion whether a severance agreement is on the up and up. They'd tell you they can read it and give you their a legal opinion. Your free consultation has ended. Anything beyond that is going to be billable hours. It's also highly doubtful you'd be leaving that consultation with the opinion.

Exactly

 

[tvguy]

I have over 15 years in the legal industry. Key word there is that they will listen. They are not going to read a severance agreement and offer a legal opinion for free (unless they're doing the work pro bono). So, basically you'd go in and tell them you need an opinion whether a severance agreement is on the up and up. They'd tell you they can read it and give you their legal opinion. Your free consultation has ended. Anything beyond that is going to be billable hours. It's also highly doubtful you'd be leaving that consultation with the opinion.

I did it twice in my career, with different attorneys.

 

[tvguy]

No decent lawyer is going to read your severance agreement for free just to tell you it's all good. Lawyers charge for their time. The ones who give you a "free" consultation do so because they stand a pretty good chance of a lucrative payout.

We had a lawyer recently give us a 30 minute free consultation meeting, but it was VERY general, and it was more HER telling is what she could do for us. We did retain her services, but before she would even accept any paperwork from us, we had to pay 50% of the rate she charged for the service she was providing us, as a retainer fee (that deposit was nonrefundable if we changed our minds, by the way, and was $1700).

Last time for me was 2005 and the lawyer said other than them offering me money for agreeing not to sue them, everything else was just state law copied into the agreement. Not sure what work other than that he could have done in that situation unless I wanted him to negotiate a higher dollar amount not to sue and of course that would be billable..

 

[disneychrista]

I'm paraphrasing from a lawyers website, but this does a better job explaining my belief and experience better than I have about a consultation.

The Attorney will be giving you what is called a case evaluation. Basically, what this means is that an attorney will listen to you and make a determination of whether or not they can help you and then explain the cost to retain.

If they determine that you don't need their help, why would they charge?

They will listen to you (I have a severance agreement that I’d like reviewed) they will determine if they can help you (read severance and give feedback) and for what cost.

 

[tvguy]

They will listen to you (I have a severance agreement that I’d like reviewed) they will determine if they can help you (read severance and give feedback) and for what cost.

Well, it was three paragraphs long, so he had done that within 60 seconds of me sitting down in his office. Don't lawyers generally do a certain amount of pro bono work anyway? He clearly could put me on his list of pro bono clients.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very sorry to read this, Sam. I have no input relative to your question but sure am wishing you the very best in the days ahead. It is the rare case indeed when a person does not improve and do better in a situation like this with their new opportunities ahead.

Again, my best wishes for you.

 

[clh2]

I lost my previous job as a result of Covid.

I did seek out an attorney to review my severance agreement. I read it carefully, and had a list of terms I found to be unacceptable. Including, that I was not able to state that my termination was related to a playoffs due to Covid. My severance payment was laughable, the attorney got me double.

We used an attorney from a firm that my DH and I had estate planning and wills done at, but this attorney specialized in employment law.

 

[sam_gordon]

Been down the severance path. 1 page, 3 paragraphs.

This one is seven pages. Eight counting the signature page.

 

[fly girl]

I don’t have any sage advice, but I just wanted to give my condolences. I’m sure this was a gut punch. However, like Dan said, it usually ends up being a blessing in disguise.

Best of luck!