Red Flags to Watch For During Legal Consultations
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on August 26, 2025
In our previous blog, “What to Expect During a Free Lawyer Consultation,” we outlined a few things that you can prepare and questions you can ask to get the most out of a free lawyer consultation. These legal consultations only give you a short window of observation into who a lawyer is and how they practice law. While many lawyers are honest and use this time to benefit all parties, some are less inclined to focus on what will be best for the client and more on how much money they can get from you.
Lawyers are here to help you, guide you, and represent you. Consultations can give you insight into how a lawyer will treat you and your case. If something feels off, it is absolutely a good idea to get a 2nd opinion. Shop around and find what is right for you. In the meantime, keep your eye out for potential red flags that can show up before, during, or after legal consultations.
Red Flags Can Include:
1. Pushy or Aggressive Behavior
One of the most important things to remember is that legal consultations are just consultations. There is no obligation from either the client or the lawyer to continue the legal relationship afterwards. Do not let a lawyer tell you that, because you had a consultation, you are required to use their services. You should never feel intimidated or pushed into a decision. If a lawyer focuses heavily on a tight timeline and emphasizes that time is of the essence, you can always ask for details on that timeline, get a second opinion, and then make your decision.
2. Sale-Centric Tactics
Watch out for consultations with lawyers who are trying to sell you their services instead of answer your questions. Big statements like “Your case is worth a fortune!” or “We guarantee this is a win!”, especially before getting into the details, should tip you off that they may not be as invested as they should be. Consultations should be a mutual discussion; you shouldn’t feel like you are sitting in the office of a car salesman.
3. Poor or Fake Online Reviews
Testimonials from previous clients can go a long way when it comes to gauging the dependability of a law firm and its lawyers. However, this can go both ways. If the law firm has lots of good reviews, be sure to check that the reviews have substance and aren’t robots from a paid website boosting the law firm to look better than it is. Alternatively, also look at the content of negative reviews to understand what the law firm might lack. Cross referencing review resources also helps, so that you can get all the testimonials you can!
4. Vague or Unclear Answers
Sometimes, you do not always get the answers you want to hear. However, this should not be because the lawyer is unprepared or unwilling to give you those answers. If a lawyer tries to talk circles around you or uses language and jargon that you would not reasonably understand, you may want to reconsider working with them. During a consultation, you should always have a lawyer who is clear and upfront about both the questions you ask and the ones you might not know to ask.
Be wary of any who use ambiguous or imprecise language to avoid giving an answer or explanation about the legal process, their payment system, or other aspects of a case. Even if they do this on accident, you should take into account that communication styles are important for a strong lawyer/client relationship. If you find that your consultation lawyer cannot effectively communicate with you, do not feel bad seeking out someone different.
5. Lack of Communication Before or Afterwards
While you can find out a lot from a lawyer during legal consultations, their behavior before and after the meeting counts for something, too. Before the meeting, avenues of communication like phone numbers, emails, and contact forms should be relatively easy to access. After the meeting, clear instructions should be given about your next steps. Whether that be an in-person meeting for initial phone call consultations or a follow-up to questions that didn’t have answers during the meeting will vary. As the client, though, you should never have to sit in silence and wonder if a law firm has forgotten about you. Communication is an ongoing practice that should not be neglected at any point in your legal process.
Come to Cooper and Friedman in Louisville, KY for a Free Legal Consultation
As lawyers, we aim to be the best we can be. Not just because law is our livelihood, but because we care about our clients and recognize that many cases that pass through our firm are also your livelihoods. Cooper and Friedman are here to give you a free legal consultation, or a 2nd opinion on a consultation you have already had. We want to help!
If you or someone you love has been injured in a personal injury accident in the State of Kentucky and are in need of an experienced injury attorney, give the lawyers at the Cooper & Friedman law firm a call. The attorneys at Cooper and Friedman PLLC have over 50 years of combined experience defending the rights of personal injury victims. Contact us with questions you might have or schedule a free case consultation with an attorney by calling 502-459-7555 today.