Understanding Fees:
There is no such thing as a 'standard fee.' Clients and attorneys negotiate fees based on several factors, including the lawyer's reputation, the type of legal problem, and what other local lawyers charge for similar work. There may be a local 'going rate' for a certain type of service such as an uncontested divorce, a simple child support modification or completling court forms. But there will still be lawyers who charge more and those who charge less.

Hourly fee: It's most common to pay lawyers by the hour. If you're paying by the hour, you need to know:

• the hourly rates of the lawyer and anyone else in the lawyer's office (paralegals, for example) who might work on the matter.
• whether you must pay a deposit in advance (often called a retainer) and if so, how much.

Flat fee: For some well-defined tasks, such as writing a simple will, a lawyer may charge a flat fee. Just be sure you know what's included in the basic fee and what's not.