Here are some questions to ask at the consultation:
Wills & Probate: Preparing to Meet with a Lawyer
Some relevant questions to ask include:
If you are a CPA mentor, this video will provide you with tips and techniques to move the mentoring relationship from its early phases of building trust to t... If you are a CPA mentor, this video will provide you with tips and techniques to move the mentoring relationship from its early phases of building trust to t...
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...•
Ask the attorney what experience they have had in similar matters....You should be aware of what will be involved going into the representation.What Communication Will You Have With Me? ... What Will I Be Required To Do? ... What Is This Going To Cost Me? ... How Long Will It Take To Resolve The Matter?
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...•
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...•
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...•
Questions to Ask Your Mentor How is what I am learning in school different from what it will be like practicing? How did you become a [insert practice area] attorney? What is a typical work day like for you? What types of cases/projects are you currently working on?
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.
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.
0:041:20What To Say When You Call An Attorney - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKnow kind of ballpark.MoreKnow kind of ballpark.
Your Lawyer Should be Ethical represent their clients with undivided loyalty. keep their clients' confidences. represent their clients within the bounds of the law, and.
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.
AnswerRaise the issue early on. Establish, in advance, a clear understanding about case updates. ... Be reasonable. A defendant who phones his or her attorney with a request for information can indicate a willingness to speak with the lawyer's associate, secretary, or paralegal.
Your Lawyer Should be Ethical represent their clients with undivided loyalty. keep their clients' confidences. represent their clients within the bounds of the law, and.
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.
Thirteen Questions to Ask Your Advocates How influential are you in the groups where I want to succeed? Do you currently advocate anyone else with skills and talents similar to mine? How many people are you currently advocating on a regular basis? How secure is your current position/role?
Networking: Questions to AskWhat are your primary job responsibilities?What experience did you have to get your job?How long have you worked here?What is your own background and experience?What is a typical work day like?How long is your work day?How much variety is there in your work?More items...
At a minimum, you'll want to know about the lawyer's expertise and whether the lawyer is a veteran or beginner attorney, for instance. Your legal issue may very well be handled by someone who is fresh out of law school, (or not). It all depends.
You'll also want to know about a lawyer's expertise and how much of the attorney's practice is devoted to topic area your legal issue falls within. For example, if you need help with an adoption case, you may wish to seek a family law lawyer who has worked on, well, adoption cases. Click here for a full list of practice area definitions.
This is an important, but often-overlooked question. For example, if you are an individual with a particular legal problem, but the attorney your meeting with represents only corporations, this may not be the best lawyer for you. Likewise, you may wish to know the financial background of some of the lawyer's clients.
Now is not the time to act shy. Feel free to ask about the attorney's track record, such as the number of cases won or settled, for example.
Some cases, like DUI and patent cases, require specialized training and knowledge for effective representation. Be sure to inquire whether your case fits into that category.
This step is obviously an important one. You'll want to know whether you can afford the lawyer's services and how you will be required to pay. This is also the time to ask about payment options and how often, and under what circumstances, you will be billed.
This can be important in two ways. First, if you are seeking an amicable divorce, for example, but the attorney is known to "go for the kill" in divorce cases, the attorney may not be the right one for you.
Think of the consultation as an interview. You’re hiring the lawyer. Put the attorney to the test, starting with this question….
You are, after all, as good as your representation. Your lawyer speaks for you. Therefore make sure you speak with that lawyer first to ensure he/she is the right one for the job. Find the best lawyer for you today.
An attorney who can answer this question well is an attorney who is attuned not only to the legal challenges at hand, but also to the way clients think about them. They’ve also likely worked with clients like you. They’ll be able to provide context upfront that answers your questions before you find yourself confused by a complex legal issue or legal language.
No matter who you’re interviewing, it’s difficult to gain a complete picture of someone’s capabilities and personality over the course of an interview. This difficulty is compounded when you’re someone without a legal background who’s interviewing an attorney.
While you don’t want to hire an attorney who will challenge your every move, you also definitely don’t want one who is so afraid of getting fired that they’re reluctant to question you when they have a legitimate concern.
Attorneys are responsible for divulging any potential conflicts of interest, even if they are never directly asked a question about them. However, it’s usually not a bad idea to inquire about them yourself.
The good news is that businesspeople definitely don’t have to resign themselves to picking the first attorney whose resume crosses their desk.
Although unexpected challenges sometimes arise and cause deadlines to be pushed back, attorneys should be able to give an estimate of how long each phase of the project will take. Make sure that these estimates seem reasonable and fit with the timeline that you have in mind.
While most attorneys will quote you an hourly rate or a fixed fee upfront, it’s important that you understand what this quote does and does not cover. For instance, will you also be responsible for reimbursing the attorney for expenses, such as transportation?
It's also a good idea to ask the lawyer about his or her legal career. It's good to know how many years the attorney has practiced law, and what type of cases the attorney generally handles. It would also be helpful to know who the lawyer's typical client is. For example, if a lawyer usually works with businesses and you're an individual, ...
Interviewing a Lawyer. It's important to interview the lawyer you want to hire to help you with your legal matter.
This is an important question because it will allow you to determine if you can afford the lawyer' s services. It's also a good idea to ask the lawyer about his or her legal career. It's good to know how many years the attorney has practiced law, ...
The first two steps to becoming a lawyer are earning a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) and taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Then, the person must attend and graduate from law school. There are some states that have legal ...
The test involves multiple choice questions and essays on various areas of law meant to test a person's understanding of the law and capacity for logical thought. In addition to the requirements mentioned above, a person must also pass a moral character and fitness test.
Criminal Law – Handles issues pertaining to individual liberty and behaviors that may be considered illegal under U.S. criminal codes.#N#Defense Attorney – Defend the accused of their crimes as is their constitutional right.#N#Prosecuting Attorney – Prosecutes the case on behalf of the federal or state government, or a wronged party. 1 Defense Attorney – Defend the accused of their crimes as is their constitutional right. 2 Prosecuting Attorney – Prosecutes the case on behalf of the federal or state government, or a wronged party.
Depending on the lawyer and their firm, it could vary from a $100 per hour to $1000s per hour. Flat fee – These are an option for cases that are more predictable, such as the drawing up of an estate plan. If this is what they offer, make sure to ask whether or not there are services and expenses that aren’t covered.
Prosecuting Attorney – Prosecutes the case on behalf of the federal or state government, or a wronged party. Entertainment Law – Deals with issues largely related to Intellectual Property law, rights, royalties, and contracts. Environmental Law – Enforces regulations, statutes, treaties, or conventions according to state or federal laws.
Common matters in family law include divorce, custody, adoption, child welfare, child abuse, marriages, and civil unions. Real Estate Law – Encompasses issues pertaining to land or construction on property in relation to ownership, development, disputes, or tenant rights. Tax Law – Stay apprised with the most recent updates ...
1. Are you a generalist or a specialist? – Since the legal field covers a broad swath of industries and subject matters, it’s exceedingly rare to find a lawyer who’s well versed in several sects of law. Typically, as is the case for most professionals, they tend to specialize and focus on a specific legal field.
If you’re going through a divorce, a tax lawyer won’t be of much help. So, although you can obtain the services of a general practitioner of the law, it’s often better to select the best fit for your case. 2.
Because lawyers often provide a free or low-cost consultation to discuss case details and possible avenues to pursue, you should take that opportunity to ask several questions. They will help you determine not only the merit of your case, but whether that attorney may be the right one for you.
It’s also important to find out who their typical client is, because if that attorney deals primarily with corporate clients or clients far beyond your financial means, they may not be used to handling a client like you or your best interests. 3.
If you find yourself embroiled in a family dispute, you should consider seeking legal counsel from an established family attorney. A family attorney can assist with dealing in matters of divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, restraining orders, spousal support, premarital agreements, wills and trusts, ...
Because hiring a family attorney can become expensive, especially if the case goes to court, you’ll at least want to determine what your other options may be. Arbitration and other out-of-court arrangements may be made to spare you not only time and expenses, but undue anxiety and other emotional distress.
No matter what your situation is, it’s absolutely vital for you to know as much as you can about your situation. This question will vary for each client, but if you’re entangled in a nasty divorce, you will want to know all there is to know about legalities involving divorce. The same would go for wills and trusts or child custody and alimony payments.