If you need assistance outside of the services offered by your military legal assistance office and cannot get a civilian attorney to handle your matter pro bono, you may have to hire a lawyer who will charge attorney’s fees. Lawyers are ethically obligated to charge only "reasonable"—and not excessive—fees. The method used to charge fees is one of the things to consider in deciding if a fee is reasonable. You should understand the different fee structures before you make any hiring decision. At your first meeting, the lawyer should estimate how much the total case will cost and inform you of the method he or she will use to charge for the work. As with any bill, you should not pay without first getting an explanation for any charges you do not understand. The following questions and answers should provide you some guidance on these issues.
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