This can be a very difficult question to answer. All lawyers have different fees, and fighting a parking ticket will cost less than a complicated tax appeal. It is not always true that you get what you pay for so shop around and follow these tips:

Meet with the attorney. At the end of the day, the way to find out how much they’ll cost is to ask them. Many lawyers will not quote a fee until they’ve met with you and had a chance to assess the case. The most important thing is that you are comfortable with the lawyer, trust him and are comfortable with his fee. Otherwise you should probably keep looking. A note to remember about retainers is that they are not the lawyer’s fee. They are usually an estimate of what the case will cost but if the case becomes more complicated, you will have to pay more. Also remember that some lawyers quote very low retainers in order to get the client on board but the fees quickly escalate above this.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate. While many lawyers do not change their fees for different clients, others will be willing to lower their fee in order to get your business. You can also ask the attorney to change their billing method. You can ask to be charged a flat fee. This will not generally be cheaper than an hourly fee but will give you peace of mind as you know what the total cost is. Another thing to do is set a maximum fee if you are being charged hourly. This means that the attorney will not incur expenses on your account above this amount without your authorization. A maximum fee can also be a good way of testing the accuracy of the retainer. Remember though, that it will not always be possible to quote a maximum if the case looks like it may run into complications.

Contingency fees are another option. These occur in cases where you stand to recover a lot of money from your legal action. In such cases you may be able to agree with the attorney that if the case he is successful he keeps a percentage of the fee but if the case is unsuccessful you will not owe anything. This allows you to proceed with your claim without any risk but remember that contingency fees, while limited by most states, are an expensive way to have your litigation performed if you have a very strong case. Also, you may be able to negotiate a reduction in the contingency fee if you case is very strong or lucrative. Also remember that in most cases you will have to pay for litigation even if you lose.

There are other options if none of the above are possible. For example, there may be a law school or law clinic in your area that offers free, or very cheap legal advice. There may also be the possibility of having your case taken on pro bono because of its particular merits.