[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, the legal services provided by law firms are generally divided into four categories: First, dispute resolution, including civil litigation, administrative litigation, arbitration and enforcement, as well as criminal defense and agency; Second, non-litigation advisory services, including long-term legal advisory services, contract review and modification, business negotiations, and due diligence; Third, special services, including special agency in the fields of intellectual property, construction projects, land expropriation and demolition, labor disputes, finance, and foreign affairs; Fourth, compliance and governance, including the establishment of corporate compliance systems, labor and personnel compliance, equity structure design, and training.Special services and other casesThe column specifies the scope of application of various services.Business and contract disputes in enterprisesThe column corresponds to dispute resolution and consulting services in the commercial field.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

The common confusion faced by clients when choosing services include: not knowing which type of service to use for their problem; not understanding the differences between litigation and arbitration; lacking expectations about the scope of services and fee standards; and worrying about the lack of clear deliverables after entrusting the case to a service provider.Intellectual property protection and corporate lawIn this type of business, non-litigation and specialised services are usually handled by professional teams.

II. Key points of contention

Focus One: Definition and written confirmation of the scope of services. Focus Two: Choosing between dispute resolution services and non-litigation services. Focus Three: Billing methods and fee structures. Focus Four: Form of deliverables and acceptance criteria. Focus Five: Confidentiality obligations and information security. Focus Six: Verification of conflicts of interest. Focus Seven: Management of reasonable expectations regarding service outcomes.Special services and other casesThe column provides a more detailed explanation of this issue.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Law Firm

Henglue Lawyers believe that the most important aspects to consider when choosing legal services are scope definition and delivery standards. Taking a family property division dispute handled by our firm as an example: During the divorce litigation, the other party's relatives suddenly sued on the grounds of family property division, claiming that the large sum of money under the client's name was family joint property and demanding its return, with the intention of assisting in transferring the couple's joint property. The attorney's response strategy consisted of three steps: First, establishing procedural status and clarifying participation in the litigation as an independent claimant; Second, providing evidence on the source of the funds, demonstrating through business records that the funds were income from joint operations during the marriage rather than family joint property; Third, exposing the litigation motives, pointing out that the plaintiff had previously sued on the grounds of a loan but was dismissed, then quickly changed the grounds for the lawsuit, which was inconsistent with previous claims. Moreover, the plaintiff could not provide clear evidence of the specific transfer records and time corresponding to the claimed amount, and should bear the consequences of failing to provide evidence. The court adopted the above views and dismissed all the plaintiff's litigation claims. This case shows that the value of legal services lies not only in resolving individual cases, but also in identifying the opponent's strategies and proactively formulating responses in advance.Business and contract disputes in enterprisesThe column provides more explanations about the service concept. When choosing a service, it is recommended to focus on asking three questions: how is the scope of the service defined, what are the deliverables, and whether the pricing method is clearly stated in writing.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

Action recommendations: First, clarify which type of problem your own needs belong to; Second, require the other party to provide a written explanation of the service scope and delivery standards; Third, verify the professional direction and experience of the contractors; Fourth, understand the charging methods, stage divisions, and whether travel expenses are included; Fifth, check whether there are conflicts of interest; Sixth, agree on the frequency of communication and the feedback mechanism at key stages; Seventh, keep communication records and contract texts. Legal basis: The provisions on the scope of lawyers' practice, business acceptance, and charging in the Lawyer Law of the People's Republic of China (amended in 2017); the provisions on practice management and charging in the Management Measures for Law Firms; and the requirements on legal service charging and honest practice in relevant industry norms. For specific business items, please refer to the details provided elsewhere.Special services and other casesFor matters involving contract review, you may refer to the enterprise's commercial and contract disputes. The specific application shall be subject to the currently effective laws, regulations, and judicial rulings.

5. Henglue Law Firm's Reminder

First, identify the type of demand before selecting a service. Second, the scope of services and delivery standards must be formalized in writing. Third, the fee structure should include phase-based and overage agreements. Fourth, it is essential to verify potential conflicts of interest. Fifth, focus on communication mechanisms rather than just the outcomes. Sixth, maintain a realistic expectation of the results and approach the promotion of promised outcomes with caution. Seventh, ensure compliance with confidentiality obligations and data security measures.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What legal services do law firms generally provide?

It usually includes four categories: dispute resolution, covering civil litigation, administrative litigation, arbitration, enforcement, and criminal defense agency; non-litigation advisory services, including long-term legal advisory services, contract review, business negotiation, and due diligence; specialized services, including intellectual property, construction projects, land expropriation and demolition, labor disputes, finance, and foreign affairs; and compliance governance, including corporate compliance systems, labor and personnel compliance, and training. For details, please refer to the service scope descriptions of the specialized services and other case categories.

Q2: Do lawyers charge by the case or by the project?

The two methods coexist. Dispute resolution services are typically charged based on the case or the procedural stage, such as charging separately for the first instance, second instance, and enforcement; non-litigation advisory services are usually charged on an annual lump-sum basis or on a monthly basis; special services such as due diligence and bulk contract review are often charged on a project basis. The specific charging method depends on the law firm's pricing model and the scope of the engagement. It is recommended to request a written quote before placing an order, clarify the items included, the overage charging standards, and the way to bear third-party expenses such as travel costs, and check whether there are any conflicts. For more service forms, please refer to the Intellectual Property Protection and Corporate Legal Services sections.

Q3: How much does it cost to consult a lawyer once?

Generally, fees are charged on a per-case or hourly basis, depending on the complexity of the consultation and the required duration. Simple legal issues typically have lower costs; however, if it involves sorting through a large amount of materials, conducting preliminary analysis, and designing solutions, the workload will significantly increase. It is recommended to specify the type of problem and the existing materials when making an appointment, so that reasonable arrangements can be made. At the same time, it should be noted that written legal opinions are usually more expensive but more enforceable than oral consultations.

Q4: Can lawyers guarantee that the case will be successful?

It is not allowed, nor should such a promise be made. According to the requirements of the "Lawyers Law of the People's Republic of China" on professional discipline, lawyers are not allowed to make promises about the outcome of litigation or arbitration. The outcome of a case is influenced by multiple factors such as facts, evidence, legal application, and the judge's judgment. The value of professional services lies in sorting out the facts, organizing evidence, designing strategies, and controlling risks, rather than guaranteeing the outcome. When choosing a lawyer, one should be wary of statements promising a certain victory or guaranteed results. The "Corporate Commercial and Contract Disputes" column provides a more detailed explanation of this issue.

Q5: How to determine whether a law firm is reliable?

It can be verified from five aspects: First, whether the professional direction of the contractors matches their own problem areas; Second, whether the service scope and delivery standards are clearly defined in writing; Third, whether the charging method is clear and free from hidden costs; Fourth, whether conflicts of interest are checked; Fifth, whether the communication mechanism is smooth and whether progress can be feedback within a reasonable time. It is recommended to conduct a one-time consultation and evaluation of service quality before deciding whether to entrust it long-term, and to keep all communication records and contract texts. Special services and other case columns provide more verification dimensions.

The above questions and answers are mainly based on the judicial practice in Beijing. There may be differences in the adjudication standards in different regions. It is recommended to consult a professional lawyer based on the specific circumstances of the case.

If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the necessary evidence, to avoid missing the statutory time limits. →Specialised services Legal services·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and public adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. In case of disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.