Hiring an attorney can be daunting for some people.  First-time clients are often concerned that their issues are going to be either too expensive to fix, or too trivial to bother someone with.  If you've never hired an attorney before, there is often the common misconception that once you start working with an attorney, you're stuck.

In California, like in almost all states, a client is free to hire or fire their attorney at any time, for any cause.  The client always has control over the relationship with their attorney.  Even if the attorney is in the middle of doing work you, you are free to release the attorney to use someone else's services, to settle your issue out of the attorney's hands, or to drop the issue entirely.  Therefore, it is almost always in the client's interest to consult an attorney before making any decisions with potential legal ramifications.

THE INITIAL CONSULT

Some attorneys charge for an initial consultation.  Some attorneys require a cash retainer (i.e. a money deposit towards services to be provided) before accepting a client's work.  If an attorney will not at least discuss your issue with you before requesting money or discussing billing procedures, chances are, that attorney is not the right one for you.  In my opinion, attorneys should first determine 1) the nature and urgency of the needs of the client, and 2) how the attorney can or cannot address those needs, before discussing billing procedures.  I always consult with first-time clients free of charge in order to make sure that I'm the right person for their needs and that their needs actually require the services of an attorney.  At the end of the day, if I charge a client for something that the client really doesn't need right now, I'm doing a disservice to my client.  I take pride in the fact that almost every single client of mine could tell someone how I saved them money by not providing a requested service.  As I often say - I'm not just an attorney, I'm a counselor.