An attorney is a legal representative who conducts business on your behalf and can represent you in court. There are multiple different kinds of attorneys with different specialties, including: Personal injury Real estate Corporate Civil rights Divorce Prosecutor Tax law Immigration Family and estate, or probate and wills attorneys Though the terms "lawyer" and "attorney" are often used interchangeably by the general public, the two are not the same. Both go to law school and can give legal advice, but lawyers cannot represent anyone in court because they haven't passed the bar exam.

Find attorneys in San Diego, CA

Q: How much does an attorney cost?

Attorneys charge $100 to $300 per hour on average, depending on their experience and specialization. Attorneys in small towns or those still in training cost $100 to $200 per hour , while experienced lawyers in large cities charge $200 to $400 per hour . These fees cover research, court filings, travel, documents, and advice. Some attorneys are willing to charge a flat-rate fee for simple projects, such as: $700 for an uncontested divorce $1,000 for writing a prenup $300 for writing a simple will $1,200 to write a will for a complex estate

Share a few details and we'll show you the best attorneys in your area.

Zip code

Find attorneys in San Diego, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best attorneys in your area.

Zip code

Top 10 attorneys in San Diego, CA

Clients agree: these providers are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Your attorney questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thervo.

How much does an attorney cost?

Attorneys charge $100 to $300 per hour on average, depending on their experience and specialization. Attorneys in small towns or those still in training cost $100 to $200 per hour, while experienced lawyers in large cities charge $200 to $400 per hour.

These fees cover research, court filings, travel, documents, and advice. Some attorneys are willing to charge a flat-rate fee for simple projects, such as:

$700 for an uncontested divorce
$1,000 for writing a prenup
$300 for writing a simple will
$1,200 to write a will for a complex estate

What is an attorney?

An attorney is a legal representative who conducts business on your behalf and can represent you in court. There are multiple different kinds of attorneys with different specialties, including:

Personal injury
Real estate
Corporate
Civil rights
Divorce
Prosecutor
Tax law
Immigration
Family and estate, or probate and wills attorneys

Though the terms "lawyer" and "attorney" are often used interchangeably by the general public, the two are not the same. Both go to law school and can give legal advice, but lawyers cannot represent anyone in court because they haven't passed the bar exam.

Do I need an attorney?

Attorneys are responsible for guiding clients through stressful, difficult situations, such as:

A car accident, fall, or other accident that resulted in an injury
Being arrested or accused of a crime
Filing for bankruptcy
A family crisis such as divorce, adoption, death, or custody dispute

What is a retainer fee?

A retainer fee is what attorneys charge for essentially being on call. Attorneys either calculate retainer fees based on how many hours they expect to work within a month or the total time they plan to work on your case.

Many attorneys keep track of time spent on phone calls or emails and apply that time towards their fees. You'll have to pay more if your case takes up more time than the retainer fee covers.

How do lawyers make money if they lose a case?

Attorneys usually charge a fee for their time, whether they win the case or not. Some lawyers work on contingency, meaning they will take a percentage of awards if they win the case, but many do not. Make sure you are aware of an attorney's fee arrangement before continuing.

What is power of attorney?

Power of attorney (POA) is a legally binding agreement allowing a person you designate to make choices about your finances, medical care, or property. This allows a trusted friend, spouse, or family member to act on your behalf when you can no longer make choices on your own.

How do I choose an attorney?

Search our list of attorneys, then:

Get at least three free estimates from different firms to compare.
Read reviews on Thervo and Google.
Choose an attorney with a good reputation and experience with your case type.
Verify that they passed the bar and are qualified to represent you.
Get a written estimate or contract before any casework takes place.
Arrange a payment schedule instead of making a large payment up front.

After asking questions and verifying their credentials, hire the best attorney in your area.

What questions should I ask attorneys?

When looking for an attorney near you, consider these questions:

What degrees and experience do you have as an attorney?
How long ago did you pass the bar?
Do you give free consultations?
Are you able to take on new clients at this time?
What are your fees?
How many cases like mine have you won?
Will you give me a contract in writing?

Reviews for San Diego attorneys

Recent success stories from people in the San Diego area.

Quilnault B.

Thank you for being such a wonderful lawyer, support system, advisor and friend throughout this entire ordeal. You are gifted at what you do and I appreciate all you’ve done to bring this situation to closure. I can’t imagine working with anyone else! You’ve set me free to start over… I’m excited about the future and look forward to enjoying every minute. You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know :)

Sunnen Law - San Diego Divorce & Family Law Firm

Ed B.

Shawn and his staff are very professional, courteous, responsive, helpful, patient, and personable. Any time I had any questions, needed assistance with docs, or needed to understand the process they were there to help right away. I would highly recommend Doan Law Office Escondido to any of my friends or family who might need professional representation with their own financial difficulties. Thank you Shawn, Mona, and Veronica you made this a very easy process.

Doan Law Office

Ben L.

I've been shopping around and most people I talk to are charging an arm and a leg. They also talk about money before they ask me about my situation and what I need. It's quite rare at Benari and Nguyen they actually care and advise on what would be best for your situation. It's hard to find people out there actually trying take time to consult with you on what will be best for you, not how they can make they can make the most money off of you. Also, very affordable prices. I highly recommend my attorney Chris. He's been great with all my BK needs and happy to answer questions.

Law Office of Chris T. Nguyen, APC

Kim C.

Our families experience with Craig Walkon, and his Law office was exceptional. We have never been through anything like this before, and every step in the process was explained thoroughly. Walkon 's Law Office accepted our case, after many offices turned us down. He was thorough, efficient and always had our best interest in mind. I would definitely recommend Craig S. Walkon Law Office to anyone that would be in need of his services. I am very thankful for the professionalism and support I was shown, as well as the results we received in a very timely manner. Hopefully, we never experience another problem like this again, however, Craig Walkon would be the first person our family contacted. Throughout the experience I felt comfort to know our interest was in the best hands possible