Keep in mind that you will end up paying a lawyer for more than just the time they spend on your case. If applicable to your case, you may have to pay them for phone costs, traveling costs, and even costs to make copies. Take this into consideration when making a financial plan.Talk to your attorney about which tasks you can reasonable assume to reduce your expenses. It's possible that you can help to make phone calls or prepare paperwork. If the courthouse requires documents, see if they can get them personally so that the law office staff doesn't need to get paid to do it. irs 6166