what should you bring at your first meeting with a lawyer
by Raphael Weimann
Published 2 years ago
Updated 1 year ago
3 min read
A pen and pad of paper or the electronic equivalent! You will surely want to write down notes on any issues or questions that arise.
A list of questions. If you're seeking legal help, you're probably in a sticky enough situation that you have a million questions and concerns. ...
A check or other means of paying the initial consultation fee, if your attorney charges one. This should be discussed ahead of the meeting. ...
Any documents relevant to your case. If, for example, you are negotiating a lease and want the lawyer to review it, you should obviously bring a copy of the draft ...
You will need to bring your lawyer up to speed on your financial situation and any other relevant legal documents. First, you should create a budget detailing how much you spend each month on items such as housing, utilities, food, clothing, personal grooming, gifts, vacations, and other expenses.
What should I bring to my meeting with my attorney?
Here are some suggestions for what to bring to your meeting with your attorney. A pen and pad of paper or the electronic equivalent! In the course of your conversation with your attorney, you will surely want to write down notes on any issues or questions that arise. A list of questions.
How should I approach my first meeting with my lawyer?
Treat your first meeting as a business consultation. While you are trying to develop a friendly rapport with your lawyer, you also want him or her to see you as a serious client with serious needs.
What do I need to bring to my first meeting?
Note that for a first meeting you do not need to do a comprehensive inventory of your personal assets – a general description will be sufficient. Bank accounts, stock or investment accounts, RRSP accounts and tax free savings accounts
What documents should I bring to my lawyer?
If, for example, you are negotiating a lease and want the lawyer to review it, you should obviously bring a copy of the draft lease. If possible, make multiple copies of each document you give to your lawyer, so that you can take a set back home.
See more
What information do you bring to an appointment?
Make sure you bring with you to the appointment your current or most recent employment information, including: the name of the company, the dates you were employed, the nature of your job, your wage or salary, and the contact information for your supervisor.
What is the most important part of a successful claim?
Your doctors are another essential component of a successful claim. After your attorney reviews your case, they might decide that a personal statement from one or more of your treating physicians is necessary.
Tips to maximize your time with your lawyer
Here are some tips of what you can do prior to your first meeting with legal counsel to maximize the time you have and to allow your lawyer to give you the best advice possible.
How can you minimize your costs and the time involved?
Family lawyers generally bill their clients on the basis of the time spent on the file. The more you call your lawyer, the more time that will be spent by your lawyer, the bigger your legal bill.
How Should I Act During The Meeting with The Lawyer?
Treat your first meeting as a business consultation. While you are trying to develop a friendly rapport with your lawyer, you also want the lawyer to see you as a serious client with serious needs. 1. Be prompt.Lawyers value their time, since they generally bill by the hour. Showing up ten minutes late could throw off the rest of the lawyer…
Get An Understanding of The Attorney's Fee Structure and Related Costs
As part of your initial meeting with your attorney, it's important to understand the anticipated cost of representation and how this will be calculated. Different lawyers bill clients differently. Some charge by the hour; some charge by the project, on a flat-fee or contingency basis. In the case of lawyers who charge hourly, some start out by charging a retainer, which is an initial up-front fee that they then bill against at an hourly rate until it r…
Be clear on what will happen next, and then be sure to follow through on whatever you're asked to do by your new attorney. The attorney will need cooperation from your end. Commonly, a lawyer will ask you to send additional documents or information pertaining to your case so that the lawyer can review it in detail. If it's not clearly spelled out in your representation agreement, ask the lawyer how they'd prefer to communicate with you (email, telepho…