Ask counsel for a quote covering the specific placement and the records needed to assess it. That consultation has a different scope from preparing a separate work-authorization application. Confirm what the fee includes instead of assuming either step has a standard price.
Define the consultation before comparing prices
A private legal consultation does not itself involve filing a government application. Ask about professional fees and any document costs, and provide the proposed duties before the meeting. If a separate authorization is needed, request a new scope and check its current official fees rather than treating it as included in the initial review.
Identify the actual professional licensing issue and relevant location before assuming a particular expense is required. The two routes carry different costs: applying at a port of entry as a Canadian citizen is not the same transaction as an employer filing an I-129 petition, and the employer usually decides which happens. Ask any professional adviser whether the quote covers the letter drafting only, or also the reply if an officer asks for more. Professional fees and credential evaluations are separate in both routes.
Check both against the published schedule on the day, because amounts move.