what to bring to a lawyer consultation

10 Essential Documents to Bring to an Attorney Consultation

1. Insurance Policy. While you are not filing a claim against your insurance company, you may need benefits from them.
2. Premium Payments. Show proof that you have paid your car insurance premiums, and that you have an active policy in...
3. Contact Information for the Negligent Party. Your attorney will want...

Full Answer

What questions should I Ask my attorney during a consultation?

When you have your lawyer consultation, one of your primary questions will be about the attorney’s background. Some people feel intimidated asking about this, but the truth is you are going to pay a lot of money for services. You wouldn’t hire an electrician who had never done wiring, so it is wise to ask questions about the attorney’s experience.

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 should I look for when hiring a lawyer?

Most attorneys have paralegals or legal assistants who handle much of the paperwork and scheduling, so you will want to know who the contact person will be for your case. You should also find out how often you can expect to hear from the lawyer. If you have legal questions, how soon will you hear back if you call or email?

How do I select an attorney for my case?

Another important component of selecting an attorney is finding out how the firm will handle and manage your case. In large firms, it is common for other attorneys to work on the case, so the people actually doing the work on your case might not be the person you first meet with.

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 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.

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 is an appropriate gift for your lawyer?

In the following section, we'll go over a list of 24 gift ideas for that special lawyer or law student in your life.Instant Pot. ... Noise-cancelling headphones. ... Nest thermostat. ... Meal-prep service subscription. ... Espresso machine. ... Favorite mug. ... Home office greenery. ... Foam gavel.More items...•

Can you tell lawyers everything?

Remember, maintaining confidentiality is a fundamental part of a lawyer's job. With a few exceptions, your lawyer can't share anything publicly without your permission. So whatever you tell them will be kept in confidence unless you and your attorney decide to use it in court.

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 it called when you meet with a lawyer?

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.

What is 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 is consultation in law?

In short, a legal consultation is an initial meeting with an attorney that takes place before you make the decision on whether to hire that attorney to represent you in your particular legal matter.

How do you thank a lawyer for their service?

' Thank you attorney, for helping me through this tough time and aiding a new beginning of my life. THANK GOD for your knowledge of the law and I promise you I will never need your services again. Attorney- Thank you for all your efforts in my husband's case and assisting me during this time.

What is the lawyer's Prayer?

Your prayer goes as follows: Pray that, for the glory of God and in the pursuit of His justice, I may be trustworthy with confidences, keen in study, accurate in analysis, correct in conclusion, able in argument, loyal to clients, honest with all, courteous to adversaries, ever attentive to conscience.

What should I gift my boyfriend lawyer?

40 Gifts for Lawyers and Law Students That'll Appeal to Anyonethis cushy lap desk. Home Office Lap Desk. ... this personalized mug. Esquire Coffee Mug. ... this single-serve coffee machine. ... this leather tech bag. ... these neat rocks glasses. ... this butt-saving cushion. ... this personalized stationary. ... this lol-worthy crewneck.More items...•

1. Insurance Policy

While you are not filing a claim against your insurance company, you may need benefits from them. Therefore, your attorney may need to review your current automobile insurance policy and see what coverage you are entitled to.

2. Premium Payments

Show proof that you have paid your car insurance premiums, and that you have an active policy in place. This can be established with bank statements, canceled checks, or statements received from the insurer.

3. Contact Information for the Negligent Party

Your attorney will want all contact details you gathered at the accident scene, including the name of the other driver, their contact information, and their insurance company information.

4. The Accident Police Report

If police were dispatched to the scene, there should be an accident report filed by law enforcement. All crash reports are sent to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles; therefore, you can request a copy of that report from them.

5. Citations Issued at the Accident Scene

Hopefully, you were not given a traffic citation. However, if the other party was given a citation, it should indicate that in your crash report so that your attorney can use that information to establish liability.

6. Accident Photographs

Whether you or another individual took pictures at the scene of the crash, your attorney will want to review them.

7. Statements or Letters from the Other Party

Most likely you will receive a statement from the other party’s insurer about the claim. You are not required to provide them with your statement, but any correspondence from that insurer should be brought to your attorney.

A Factual Outline of Your Marriage and Reason for Divorce

While you might feel like you know all the details about the dissolution of your marriage, it’s easy to forget essential elements. One of the best ways to prepare for an initial consultation with a divorce attorney is to create a written document.

Documents Related to Income

Information related to income plays an important role when determining alimony, child support, and property dissolution.

Documents Related to Real Estate

Real estate, such as a home, is typically the most significant asset involved in a divorce. If you purchased any property during the marriage, it would likely need to be equitably divided. Property purchased before the marriage might end up shared as well, depending on the ruling.

Documents Related to Joint Financial Accounts

During the divorce process, you and your spouse will both need to disclose your assets completely. You’ll need to bring all bank statements, whether they’re in your name only or shared jointly by you and your spouse.

Documents Related to Automobiles Owned

Aside from real estate, automobiles are typically another major asset that will need documentation. Bring titles and registration for all vehicles owned by either you individually, your spouse individually, or the two of you jointly.

Important Legal Documents

Your divorce attorney will want copies of standard legal documents. Bring your:

A List of Questions and Goals

Your attorney is the one person in the entire process who is 100% committed to looking out for your best interests. However, they can’t do that effectively unless you communicate your goals. Before the meeting, prepare questions to ask a divorce lawyer, as it’s easy to forget your concerns once you’re in the office.

What to Bring to Your Consultation

Your initial consultation will give you an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about your legal options. To take full advantage of your initial consultation, there are some things you can bring to your meeting, including:

Contact Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. Today

Although you don’t have to have this information when meeting with an attorney for the first time, it can be beneficial to bring it to get the most out of your first meeting. If you were hurt in an accident, do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C.

1 – Bring a List of Questions You Have

As mentioned, this is the perfect time to ask the divorce lawyer about any questions you may want answers to. This may include things such as, “what are my options?” or “what is a realistic timeline for my case?”

2 – Consider Bringing Pay Stubs

It’s common for divorce attorneys to ask how much money both you and your spouse make. When determining items such as child support payments, these will be important pieces of information that will be taken into consideration.

3 – If You Have Tax Returns, Bring These

Sometimes it’s understandably a little tough to round up three months worth of pay stubs. If you are unable to, a tax return may actually be even more helpful, since it’s gives a better picture of yearly income and your financial situation.

4 – Bring Prenuptial Agreements and Other Documents Related to Your Marriage

If you have a prenuptial agreement, this something you will certainly want to bring as it will help in preparation of a divorce agreement. In addition to agreements relating to your marriage, if children are involved, you may also consider bringing their birth certificates.

Scheduling Your Divorce Consultation

We understand that facing divorce is difficult. More often than not, it brings with it negative feelings and emotions. But you don’t have to face it alone. If you are facing divorce, we encourage you to schedule a divorce consultation with our firm.