Free Initial Enquiries: A False Economy — Why a Paid First Meeting is in Your Best Interest

In the world of family law, facing separation, divorce, or disputes involving children or finances is stressful enough without uncertainty about what comes next. Many legal firms offer free initial meetings — but what seems generous at first glance often comes with hidden drawbacks.  

At Maguire Family Law, we believe our fixed-fee first consultation (our “Road Map”) provides divorcing couples, parents with disputes about their children and high net worth clients with clarity, direction, and tailored legal advice from day one. Here’s why we believe free enquiries are a false economy — and why investing in proper advice upfront pays off. 

What We Do at That First Consultation 

When you choose to work with us, your first meeting isn’t merely a conversation — it’s a roadmap. Here’s what that involves: 

• We meet at a time that suits you, either in person, by video or phone, so it’s convenient and safe.  

• Beforehand, we send you a questionnaire so you can gather your thoughts and documents, think about your questions — this helps us use the meeting time efficiently.  

• During the meeting: 

• • We listen to your story, understand what’s going on in your case.

• • We explain your options: what could happen, what risks there are, the likely timescales, costs, and the tactics you can use.  

• • We answer your questions — not in vague generalities, but specific to your situation.  

• Afterwards, we give you written follow-up advice and guidance. This isn’t just “do this or that,” but: 

• • A breakdown of the legal issues relevant to your case (children, finances, or international aspects).  

• • Confirmation of what we discussed and your questions.  

In short, you leave with clarity. You know your options, what to expect, what the risks are, and how we can work together (if you choose to). 

Why “Free” Can Be Misleading 

Offering an initial meeting for free seems appealing. But there are trade-offs you may not realise: 

1. Surface-level advice vs. meaningful insight
   Free meetings often become “fact-finding” sessions or generic overviews. Because they aren’t charged, there’s less incentive (on both sides) to prepare deeply in advance, or to dive into the specifics of your case. Free meetings tend to be broad overviews rather than in-depth advice. They rarely address the nuances involved in high net worth divorces or complicated family structures.  
2. Unclear expectations
   With a free meeting, clients sometimes assume they’ll get full legal advice, a plan, or a roadmap — but often what they get is a general sense, with many “maybes” or “it depends.” That can lead to frustration and uncertainty. 
3. Time wasted for both parties
   Some enquiries are genuine, others less so. Free meetings tend to attract people who are just exploring, “shopping around”, or hoping for free tips. That can make it harder for a law firm to focus its resources on the clients who are ready to move forward. 
4. Lack of commitment
   When something is free, it’s easier to cancel, not show up, or treat it casually. That reduces accountability on both sides: you may not get the full engagement, and your solicitor might not have all the relevant details. 

Why Paying Upfront Adds Value 

Our fixed-fee first consultation does more than offset costs — it changes the nature of the meeting, making it more useful and more efficient for you. Here’s how: 

• You get better preparation — both from you, completing the questionnaire, and from us, going into the meeting knowing your particular concerns. 

• You get targeted, realistic advice — not just what’s possible in theory, but what’s likely in your situation, given your priorities. 

• You walk away with a plan — what the steps are, what the timeframes are, what risks you need to manage, and what costs to expect. 

• You are investing in certainty and clarity, not just the meeting itself. That can save time, money, and emotional stress down the line — because you’re making decisions based on information, not guesswork. 

For clients with significant assets, international connections, or complex family circumstances, the stakes are too high for vague advice. A fixed-fee consultation ensures: 

• Serious, focused advice from the outset 

• An actionable strategy to protect wealth, children, and future stability 

• Confidence in the decisions you make 

• A genuine investment in moving forward — not just a chat 

In divorce, the cost of uncertainty is often far higher than the cost of proper advice. 

“False Economy”: What It Really Means 

A false economy is something that seems like saving, but costs more in the end. Some ways this plays out in free initial enquiries: 

• You might take advice that later turns out not to apply, because your situation had details not explored in a free call. 

• You may hire a firm, only to later discover that you need to pay to clarify important issues. 

• The time spent chasing vague advice or doing follow-ups without a clear plan can add up — emotionally, financially, and in terms of delay. 

What to Look For in the Initial Meeting 

If you are weighing firms, free vs paid, here are questions you might ask: 

• Will I get written advice/a plan or just a verbal discussion? 

• How much time will be taken, and how prepared will the solicitor be (e.g. will I need to fill anything in, send documents first)? 

• Will I get estimates of cost, timescale and risk specific to my case? 

• What happens after that meeting? What are the options for next steps? 

Final Thoughts 

Whether you are concerned about dividing property, safeguarding business interests, or ensuring the best arrangements for your children, our Road Map consultation gives you the clarity you need. It avoids the pitfalls of “free” advice and equips you with the knowledge and strategy to take control of your future. 

At Maguire Family Law, we believe that our fixed-fee initial consultation is the best way to serve clients who want clarity, dignity, and confidence from the start. It’s not about charging for the sake of charging — it’s about offering a first meeting that really helps, that gives you actionable insight, not just an introduction. 

If you’re serious about your matter and want to understand your options clearly — without surprises — then paying for the first consultation is rarely a cost. It’s an investment.