how to prepare for a consultation with a lawyer

^{Preparing to Meet With a Lawyer}

• Your Contact Information. Regardless of the type of legal matter, your lawyer will want to know who you are and how to contact you.
• Key Facts About Your Case. Your lawyer will surely ask you to describe the key facts leading up to your decision to meet with an attorney.
• Gather Relevant Documents and Evidence. In addition to learning about you and hearing your narrative, your lawyer will also want to see documents and evidence, both for informational purposes and ...
• Make Sure the Lawyer Has No Conflicts of Interest. Before you get too far into a meeting or conversation, the lawyer will want to know about any possible conflicts of ...
Consider Your Goals for Representation. Sometimes, clients realize that they have a legal problem, but don't think clearly about their specific objectives, particularly if they're angry.
Consider Questions to Ask. Undoubtedly, you have many questions you'll want to ask your attorney. To ensure that you get all these answered, try listing them out ahead of time.

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.

How do I prepare for a meeting with my lawyer?

As you prepare to meet with your lawyer, try to locate any of the following that might apply to your case: correspondence (letters, emails, or text messages between you and the other party or otherwise relevant to your dispute) Try to gather and copy these documents before your meeting.

How do I prepare for my first meeting with a lawyer?

Tips For Meeting With Your Lawyer For the First TimeDress To Impress. ... Be Ready To Give Your Attorney Important Information About Yourself. ... Gather Your Evidence And Have It Ready For Your First Meeting. ... Get Your Facts Straight. ... Plan Something You Can Look Forward To For After Your Meeting.

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...•

What should I wear to a lawyer consultation?

Day of consultation The 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.

What questions should I ask my lawyer?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?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 do lawyers do in a consultation?

The consultation is about getting a feel for if the lawyer is the right one for you. The lawyer is also trying to figure out if you will make a good client or if you will be in trouble. A lot of clients come to law firms with issues, and the lawyer wants to make sure the clie3nt doesn't cause drama at the law firm.

How do you present yourself in court?

Introduce yourself by name and as the plaintiff or defendant, claimant or respondent. Speak clearly and loudly (but don't yell at the judge). Don't rush. Speak at a normal rate.

How do you impress a judge in court?

Be clean.Be clean. It is important to wear neat and clean clothes when you are going to court. ... Stand when the judge enters the room. ... Address the judge as 'Your Honor. ... Be audible. ... Use proper language and speak in complete sentences. ... Prepare before every hearing. ... Be polite and respectful. ... Be punctual.More items...

What color should a woman wear to court?

What Color Should a Woman Wear to Court? Darker, more serious colors are preferable, and bright colors should be avoided. The best colors to wear to court are “conservative” colors (white, blue, navy, gray, and the like) and to steer clear of crazy patterns and shocking fashion statements.

What is the hardest question to ask a lawyer?

12 Tough Questions to Ask a LawyerWhat's your opinion of the probate process?Under what conditions do you recommend a Living Trust?How do I protect my children from abusive relatives if something happens to me?Can I keep my kids from controlling their entire inheritance at 18?More items...•

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

How do you answer a lawyer question?

Give positive, definite answers when at all possible. Avoid saying, “I think”, “I believe”, or “In my opinion” if you can answer positively. If you do know, then say so. You can be positive about important things which you would naturally remember.

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.

What is the first meeting between a lawyer and a prospective client?

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 with your case regardless of whether you hire that lawyer or any other one.

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 I meet with an attorney alone?

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. To avoid interruptions, be sure to turn off all cell phones or other electronic devices just before your appointment.

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:

Organize Key Facts

You should expect the lawyer to ask you to recount the facts surrounding the event you are there to see him or her about. In anticipation of meeting with your lawyer, you may find it helpful to take notes, either on paper or on your phone, to help make sure you remember to tell him or her as much as possible.

Collect Documents and Evidence

The lawyer will also ask you for any documents, reports, statements, photographs and/or videos you have related to the event, so be prepared to share those. The attorney will peruse any documents and evidence you may have on hand to better understand your case and assess its strength.

Does the Attorney Provide Free Consultations?

The answer often depends on the specialty. Established legal practices with experienced lawyers tend to charge for the initial consultation, particularly in areas of estate planning, corporate and banking representation and tax-related issues.

What to Ask a Lawyer in a Consultation

Prior to the initial consultation, you may consider writing down your questions so you do not forget to ask them during the meeting. Here are some questions that clients often ask during the first visit:

What do lawyers want to see?

In addition to learning about you and hearing your narrative, your lawyer will also want to see documents and evidence, both for informational purposes and to help assess the strength of your case. Obviously, the nature of the evidence will vary dramatically from one type of case to another. As you prepare to meet with your lawyer, try ...

Why is it important to prepare for a first consultation?

In short, preparation for your first consultation meeting is critical. Strong preparation will save time and money. It will also ensure that all of your questions are answered, and that your attorney has all the information needed in order to effectively represent you.

What to know before meeting with a lawyer?

Before you get too far into a meeting or conversation, the lawyer will want to know about any possible conflicts of interest that might prevent him or her from ethically representing you.

What are the goals of a lawyer?

Typical goals might include: review and provide comments on a contract or legal document. draft a will.

What to include in a dispute narrative?

Some important details to include in that narrative include: names of the key players in your dispute. date the dispute or problem began. type of the dispute (harassment, contract, divorce) key events of your dispute, including a "who, what, where, when and why" narrative, and. current status of your dispute.

What documents are used to dispute a contract?

contracts (such as employment agreements , leases, promissory notes, and the like) financial documents (for example, if you'll be drafting a will or starting a company) correspondence (letters, emails, or text messages between you and the other party or otherwise relevant to your dispute)

How to respond to a legal complaint?

respond to a legal complaint, lawsuit, or threatening letter. research whether you have a meritorious legal claim against another person or entity. draft a legal complaint or demand letter to another person or entity, or. negotiate a lease, contract, or other agreement.

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony, also called spousal support, is financial assistance provided to a spouse so that they can maintain their standard of living they were accustomed to prior to the divorce.

What is a family law attorney?

A family law attorney can help with any separation issues an individual may have. A divorce is the legal end of a marriage. Laws regarding divorce vary by state but all divorces are finalized by a court. Divorces can be a straight forward agreement or a complex case involving children.

What is paternity in law?

Paternity refers to a legal process where the biological father of a child is determined. If a couple is married, paternity is usually determined when the father signs the birth certificate. If a baby is born to an unwed mother, a court order may be required to establish paternity.

What is child support?

Child support is financial support provided by a non-custodial parent to the custodial parent. A child support agreement can be entered into voluntarily by the parties or can be court-ordered. Child support is intended for the support and care of the child and/or children.

How to protect your rights in a family law case?

It is essential to protect your rights in any family law matter. Do: Be honest with your attorney and provide all requested information. Sometimes, it can feel like you must turn over your entire life, but this is only so your attorney can be prepared for any issues in your case.

What is family law?

Family law includes the rules, regulations, and court procedures involving the family unit. It is common for family law cases to be difficult, personal, and emotional. A family law attorney will help a client prepare for any type of case involving the family unit. The types of preparations that will be required will depend on the type ...

Why do courts prefer to appoint a guardian?

A court prefers to appoint a guardian who has ties to the ward because great responsibility is involved. A family law attorney can assist an individual who wishes to become a guardian and/or protect the rights of a ward. Paternity refers to a legal process where the biological father of a child is determined.

How long does it take for a lawsuit to be resolved?

Lawsuits can take years to resolve. Don’t expect to go to an attorney’s office and have an immediate resolution to your case. Lawsuits are long and often complex processes, so expect to be in it for the long haul.

What is medical dispute?

In the case of a medical dispute, this includes correspondence between you and your doctor (if there is any), test results, drug warning labels, receipts for medication, insurance claims, any information given about the drug or medical device in question. In the case of a financial dispute, this includes contracts, monthly or quarterly statements, any correspondence between you and your financial broker or advisor, any marketing materials you were given about the investment and so on.

Can an attorney help you if you are taking multiple medications?

Your attorney cannot help you if you don’t provide all the important facts. If you were taking several medications at once, the attorney needs to know this, even if your claim is that only one of the medications caused you harm. If you already suffered back pain before your car accident, tell your attorney. Don’t keep secrets from your lawyer, or it’ll be much more difficult for her to make your case.

What is the foundation of a divorce?

The foundation of a strong divorce case is the knowledge of the rules and requirements for filing for divorce in the state in which a party resides. An attorney will know this information and be able to advise the party if they meet the requirements for a divorce in their state.

What are some of the things you can't do in a divorce?

Some “don’ts” for divorce cases include: Don’t: Be petty. Do not punish the other party with outlandish requests and needlessly drag out the divorce process. Don’t: Don’t provide dishonest information to an attorney and/or the court in an attempt to get more out of the divorce.

What can an attorney do for a divorce?

An attorney will be able to help an individual obtain what they seek in their divorce case. Often, important items such as homes and vehicles have to be divided between parties to a divorce. Additionally, there may be children involved, adding a child custody and visitation aspect to the case.

Why is it important to hire a divorce lawyer?

For most individuals, a divorce is simply too complex and emotionally challenging to handle on their own. A divorce lawyer can advise you on the laws of your state and your rights under those laws.

Why is it important to compile documentation?

It is important to compile documentation a lawyer may need prior to a consultation. It is also important to notate any questions an individual may have for their attorney. In divorce cases, parties must often cooperate in order for the results to be efficient and equitable.

Why do you need to present an argument in a divorce?

They will also know how to best present an argument to the court in order to protect an individual’s rights and property during a divorce. Depending on whether an individual lives in a no-fault or fault divorce state, they may be required to provide a reason for divorce.

What are the most heavily contested issues during a divorce?

Usually, property distribution, the listing of assets, and child-related expenses are the most heavily contested issues during a divorce.