how soon can i set up a consultation with a lawyer

Keep in mind that it is important to begin consulting with a lawyer as soon as possible so that your case can be reviewed and you can begin moving forward with the process. Schedule Your Free Legal Consultation Today When you need to handle any kind of legal matter, having an experienced lawyer on your side can make a world of difference.

Full Answer

What happens at an initial consultation with a lawyer?

Meeting with a lawyer for an initial consultation is generally not a chance to ask legal questions that are in depth, but is instead an opportunity to get a sense as to whether this lawyer is the right one to handle your case. Use this meeting to help you decide which lawyer will be the best one for your case.

What should I bring to my first consultation with a lawyer?

Make a set of copies of everything that you plan to share with the lawyer. Give the lawyer the copies at the beginning of the initial consultation. Prudent attorneys do not accept original documents, and you do not want to waste precious time or money waiting while the attorney makes copies.

How do I find a good lawyer to consult?

Finding the Right Attorney Before you can have an attorney consultation, you need to find a lawyer who might be a good fit. Look for an attorney who focuses his or her practice on your type of legal question, or someone who lists this as a type of law they regularly practice. Your local bar association may have a referral program.

What is the purpose of a free consultation with an attorney?

The purpose of a free consultation is not to obtain specific legal advice in the consultation, but rather to allow you to determine whether you would like to hire the attorney and to allow the attorney to determine whether he or she can help you achieve your legal goals. What Happens During an Initial Consultation with an Attorney?

When should you consult with legal counsel?

Some of the common reasons to consult legal counsel are: Before entering into any contract for the purchase or sale of real estate, personal property of significant value. All contracts should be in writing and review before formation. For tax planning, and to avoid tax issues.

What is an initial consultation?

An Initial consultation is a 90 minute consultation for a new client who would like to meet with a psychologist to discuss current issues and/or concerns and talk about strategies and goals for therapy and/or a treatment plan.

What you should know before you talk to a lawyer?

10 Things You Should Know Before Contacting a LawyerHave Your Documents Ready. ... Research the Elements of Your Case. ... Don't Call if You Just Have a Question. ... You May Not Speak to a Lawyer Right Away. ... Do Not Ask the Legal Support Staff for Advice. ... Don't Provide Too Much Information. ... Answer the Lawyer's Specific Questions.More items...•

How do I prepare for a consultation?

Prepare For Your ConsultationBring all documents. Make copies of all the documents you have collected regarding your case and give these copies to your lawyer.Have notes ready. ... Dress for success. ... Be honest. ... Talk about costs. ... Ask your lawyer questions. ... Understand all documents you sign. ... Keep your own files.More items...

What do lawyers do in a consultation?

Therefore, in any free consultation, your lawyer's attention is likely to be split between processing the information you're giving to him or her, and meeting their financial obligations, either to their boss or their landlord. The pressure to convert you into a paying client will be ever-present.

How do I talk to my lawyer for the first time?

Tips for Talking to an AttorneyAlways be as honest and candid as possible about the facts of your case. ... Ask questions if you don't understand something that your attorney mentions or explains to you.Approach an attorney about your case as soon as you think you may need one.More items...•

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

What should I wear to meet a lawyer?

business casualThe standard attire for meeting with you lawyer should be business casual. Wear dress pants, a nice shirt or top. Women should wear a conservative dress or skirt. Nothing too revealing.

Do I Need A Lawyer?

It’s true that not every disagreement or accident case requires a lawyer, but many do. The best way to determine if you could benefit from a lawyer is by evaluating several factors of your case. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the below, it may be time to get that free consultation on the books:

How Will A Lawyer Help Me?

No matter how much research you’ve done and how well educated you are, the legal system is complicated and makes it extremely difficult for anyone to represent themselves. Because every case is unique, it is essential to have a specialist represent you.

Questions To Ask A Potential Lawyer

Before your first consultation with a personal injury lawyer, have the following questions prepared:

Tips To Prepare You For Meeting With A Lawyer

Have these questions with you before your first consultation with a lawyer. They will help you feel prepared and more confident about hiring an attorney. Let’s now go over a few additional tips to guide you when getting ready for an initial consultation with a lawyer:

What is an initial consultation?

All attorneys meet with prospective clients in what is called an initial consultation. This is a first meeting between you and the lawyer to help you both decide whether you want to work together in an attorney-client relationship. At this point, you are both checking each other out, and getting information and advice that can help you ...

How to avoid interruptions in an attorney appointment?

To avoid interruptions, be sure to turn off all cell phones or other electronic devices just before your appointment. Following these tips will help ensure that you have a productive first meeting with the attorney and start a good working relationship should you decide to hire him or her.

How to share documents with a lawyer?

Make a set of copies of everything that you plan to share with the lawyer. Give the lawyer the copies at the beginning of the initial consultation. Prudent attorneys do not accept original documents, and you do not want to waste precious time or money waiting while the attorney makes copies. So fax the documents to the law office before the meeting.

Why do attorneys keep their information confidential?

Remember, the attorney will keep this information confidential, unless required to share it with a court because it is relevant to the legal matter or with law enforcement for a public-safety reason. You may think the information is too trivial or embarrassing to mention, but it may well be extremely important, so share it.

What to do if you have no court papers?

Even if you have no court papers yet, you may have on hand or could readily obtain documents that could be helpful.

Can you bring a friend to an attorney consultation?

If you feel more comfortable bringing a friend or relative to the initial consultation for support, you may do so. But realize that any attorney-prospective client confidentiality you otherwise would enjoy at the meeting is lost if a third party, including your friend or relative, is present. He or she could even be subpoenaed to testify against you about what was said or heard. It is usually in your best interest to meet with the attorney alone, even if the other person is paying for the appointment. Your friend (s) or loved one (s) can wait in the lobby.

How to think of a lawyer consultation?

Try to think of your lawyer consultation as a combination of an interview and an informational session. Your potential lawyer will use this time to determine if they can help you, so you should use the time to consider whether or not that attorney is the right fit for your needs. If you can go into the process understanding what’s going to happen, you will have a much better chance of getting everything you need out of your consultation.

What is initial consultation?

First and foremost, your initial consultation with an attorney is the time when you first meet that person face to face. While you can do an awful lot of research about a lawyer online, nothing is as important as the meeting you’ll have with them for the first time. You will get not only a chance to learn a bit about the attorney, but you’ll also be able to get a feeling as to whether or not this is a person with whom you would like to work in the future.

Why do people work with lawyers?

While most people think of working with a lawyer as something that only happens when a crime is committed, the truth is that the reasons you might work with an attorney range from adopting a child to starting a new business. Every working relationship begins with a consultation, though, and understanding what will happen during that consultation is an excellent way to prepare yourself to get the most you can out of that meeting.

Make Sure You Know What to Ask

It’s always a good idea to know in advance what you intend to ask your lawyer. All of the relevant questions that you need immediate answers to need to be worked out in advance. This way, you won’t be stumbling through the interview blindly, asking every question but the right one.

Bring the Legal Documents Your Lawyer Needs to See

Your next step will be to bring all of the relevant documents that are related to your legal case. Your lawyer will need to review these in order to help you determine if your case is going to be strong enough to bring to court.

Make Sure You Know What to Expect

Your lawyer should be able to bring their knowledge and experience to bear to let you know what to expect from your legal case. For example, if they have expertise in workman’s comp cases, they should be able to let you know what kind of settlement to expect. They should have a rough idea of how long it will take.

Rebecca A. Seibert

I agree with the responses that have already been posted but also wanted to address your question as to whether they would call you back even if they were not interested. I probably speak for most attorneys when I say that we do call back regarding inquiries for cases that we do not or cannot take.

Joshua Brent Raffini

I agree with the other attorneys. Call back or find another attorney who is available sooner. Many attorney offices have a policy as to how quickly calls should be returned, but even then it can give way to the reality of a busy practice. I doubt you will have trouble finding an attorney to speak with you with a little time and effort.

F. David Rusin

If a lawyer truly wanted to handle your case that lawyer would call you back. Given the fact that the attorneys you have called have failed to return your call, you should call other attorneys until you find an attorney that either will speak to you immediately or will call you back within a reasonable time. You are the boss. More

Michael Gordon Sribnick

As my colleague stated call as much as you like, as you are the one who has a legal problem. If the answer is not to your liking, hire a criminal defense attorney who is. Dr. Michael G. Sribnick, Esq. criminal defense and personal injury attorney in Charleston and Columbia, S.C. Michael G. Sribnick, M.D., J.D., LLC...

Jason William Burgess

Often they are busy in court and such. Call as often as you want. Few people get mad that you want to give them money. But if the service is not to your liking, call others. There is no shortage of lawyers available to you. So long as you can pay.

Brandon Alexander Robinson

So far, I would not be too alarmed, given that it was last Thursday. However, a polite phone call or email to the firm, in which you preface your follow-up with your understanding that they are busy with starting up the office, would not be inappropriate at all.

How to prepare for a first attorney consultation?

1. Gather your documents. 2. Have your questions ready. 3. Bring something to take notes. 4. Give all the facts.

Why is it important to have a free initial consultation with an attorney?

The first attorney consultation is essential. Most attorneys offer free initial consultations so you can get to know them and their firm. Take advantage of this opportunity. Don’t be afraid to “shop around” before choosing a lawyer because it can take more than one try to find a good fit .

What can an attorney do to help you with a case?

The more you bring, the better. The attorney can wade through your documents and figure out what is relevant to your case and what isn’t.

What to say in a meeting about a car accident?

Most of the meeting will consist of giving an account of what happened that led you to seek legal counsel. For example, if you were hit by someone who was texting and driving, you would tell the story of what happened leading to the crash, how the crash occurred, damages and injuries it caused, etc.

Can you remember what an attorney says?

You won’t be able to remember all of what the attorney says, so writing down some main points is strongly encouraged. While the initial consultation doesn’t include legal advice, you may get some more general information or opinions on your situation.

What to ask an attorney at an initial consultation?

At the initial consultation the attorney will generally ask you to give him or her a brief description of what you need help with. At this point, the attorney is not looking for the whole story, but a brief summary. He or she will then ask you a series of targeted questions in order to determine:

What is the purpose of a free consultation?

The purpose of a free consultation is not to obtain specific legal advice in the consultation, but rather to allow you to determine whether you would like to hire the attorney and to allow the attorney to determine whether he or she can help you achieve your legal goals.

What does an attorney do when you have an understanding of your case?

Once the attorney has an understanding of your case, he or she will typically let you know what your legal options are, your prospects of success in achieving your goals, and how much he or she expects this to cost.

Can an attorney give free legal advice?

The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client. Attorneys don’t give legal advice without first being retained ...

Do attorneys give free consultations?

Many attorneys offer both free consultations and paid consultations, depending on what you are trying to accomplish. The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client.