How to avoid getting a large legal bill

Before you engage a lawyer, ask the following:

a) What is your rate per hour?
b) How many hours do you expect is required for this case?

Do not accept an answer, "it depends". Ask for an estimate. Get the lawyer to agree to keep to the estimate. If the estimate is exceeded, he should ask you to agree to a revised estimate.

Ask the lawyer to send you a monthly bill. Do not allow the lawyer to accumulate the hours and send you the bill after a few months. You will be shocked at the size of the bill.