what to do before contacting a lawyer

^{10 Things You Should Know Before Contacting a Lawyer}

• Have Your Documents Ready. Lawyers often need to see documents to understand your case. ...
• Research the Elements of Your Case. Each type of legal claim has specific elements that must be proven to win the case. ...
• Don’t Call if You Just Have a Question. Attorneys generally cannot give you legal advice without fully analyzing the facts of your situation, which takes time.
• You May Not Speak to a Lawyer Right Away. Lawyers are busy people. ...
• Do Not Ask the Legal Support Staff for Advice. Legal advice is the giving of a formal opinion regarding the law in relation to a particular factual situation.
Don’t Provide Too Much Information. A lawyer’s job is to analyze whether you have legal claims and what your potential courses of legal action might be.
Answer the Lawyer’s Specific Questions. When you contact a lawyer, they are going to ask you very specific questions to determine what type of elements are present in your case.
The Lawyer May Not Be Able to Take Your Case. Every law firm is different. Some law firms are busier than others. ...
Not All Lawyers are Created Equal. It is best to hire an attorney who specializes in the specific field of law you need help in. ...
Lawyers Are Here to Help. Most attorneys go into the legal profession because they genuinely want to help people. ...

When should you contact a lawyer?

For example, if you're being mistreated at work and want to know what your rights are, or you've been a victim of fraud or theft, speaking to a lawyer is a good idea even if nothing comes of it. Similarly, consult with a lawyer if you have a brilliant idea and want to make sure it's not stolen, or want to start your own business.

What to do before meeting an attorney for the first time?

Here are seven tips on what to do before meeting the attorney for the first time. Just as you would do before doing to a doctor, write down any questions you have so that you do not forget to ask them. Bring a notepad to take notes, or leave space after each question so you have a convenient spot to write down the attorney’s answers.

What should I Tell my Lawyer about my situation?

If there is anything you want to be sure to tell the lawyer about your situation, write it down. 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.

How do I prepare for a consultation with a 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.

How do you prepare to talk to a lawyer?

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 to say when you contact a lawyer?

0:091:20What To Say When You Call An Attorney - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKnow kind of ballpark. Terms where you're coming from.MoreKnow kind of ballpark. Terms where you're coming from.

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 kind of questions do you ask a 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 happens when you call a lawyer?

During the call, the attorney most often will ask you to explain your situation to them and may stop you along the way as he or she has questions. Once the attorney has a good understanding of the facts, he or she may explain and educate you regarding what the laws relevant to your potential case are.

Should I tell my lawyer the whole truth?

It's almost always advisable to tell your lawyer the whole truth about your case, even if you've committed a crime. Giving your lawyer all the facts helps them craft the best defense by raising reasonable doubt. Even when a client admits guilt, there are usually many mitigating circumstances that can come into play.

What is it called when you meet with a lawyer for the first time?

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 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.

How do you write a timeline for a lawyer?

#1 Get organized. ... #2 Understand what information your attorney needs. ... #3 Start at the beginning. ... #4 Be specific. ... #5 Fill in the blanks. ... #6 If in doubt, put it in. ... #7 Double, triple and quadruple check.

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...•

What questions should I ask in an attorney interview?

Litigation-related questions to ask a lawyer in an interview include:How many court and jury trials have you done and what is your win percentage? ... What is the chance that I receive a favorable outcome? ... What are the risks if the case does fail? ... What are the odds of a settlement? ... How long should I expect this to take?

1. Determine your goal (s)

For example, "I want to get child support payments." "I want my landlord to give me more time to move out." "I want creditors to stop calling me."

2. Decide your budget

How much money can you spend on legal services? For example, you might have $50 per week, or $200 per month, to spend on a lawyer.

3. Gather relevant documents

Do you have any court papers, letters, pictures, receipts or other documents related to a legal problem? Bring them with you to show the lawyer.

4. Contact a lawyer

You will have limited time with the lawyer, so it's important that you think about these issues. Complete and bring this worksheet to your meeting.

What to ask a lawyer about a case?

An important question to ask a lawyer is what the strategy for your case will be and the outcome the lawyer expects. You’ll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options. Think about the answers and if you are comfortable with them. Maybe you want to avoid a trial at all costs but your attorney really wants to just go to trial, or perhaps you have no intention of settling and want your day in court. It is important that your lawyer’s strategy lines up with your needs.

What is a meeting 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.

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting.

Why do lawyers offer free consultations?

Most lawyers offer a free consultation so that you have a chance to determine if he or she is the right person for you. Going to the first meeting with some simple questions can help you ensure you find the right person for the legal help you need. You will not get much legal advice at this consult since it is not meant to resolve your legal ...

Can you ask where an attorney went to law school?

It is generally not very helpful to ask where the attorney went to law school since you can find this information online and it often tells you nothing useful anyhow. Focus instead on experience with your type of case. You can also ask the average verdict the lawyer has obtained in your type of case.

Why is it important to find a lawyer?

It’s important that you find a lawyer who’ll work hard when representing you, who’ll be honest every step of the way, and who has the necessary skills you need. That’s why you have to consider contacting several attorneys before selecting one.

Is the attorney-client relationship stronger?

The attorney-client relationship is stronger and better when the client and lawyer understand each other. Keeping in mind the things discussed above won’t only help streamline the process of finding an attorney, but it can also help you contact an attorney who understands your needs, affordable, and most qualified.

Is it true that something sounds too good to be real?

If something sounds too good to be real, it probably isn’t true –this is a general rule in life. It also applies when you’re searching for an attorney you can contact and speak with.

Can I work with an attorney?

It can be overwhelming to work with an attorney, especially if you don’t know how to prepare for the initial consultation. The good news is that there are things that you can do so the process can become less stressful and easier for you and the lawyer you’re going to speak with.

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 does "tell me everything" mean?

Rule number one, says Unrath, is to be honest and truthful. Your conversations with them are legally protected, which means now's not the time to hold back. When your lawyer says "tell me everything," they mean it:

What is a good lawyer?

A good lawyer works with you, helps you understand the situation, and guides you to the best possible result. To do that, they need a client they can work with. Here's how to be just that. Advertisement.

Is a lawyer a human being?

Your lawyer is still a human being, and they need to experience the events you're describing or your situation as close to how they happened as possible. Jumping forward and back in time or going off on tangents is confusing, and may lead to an important detail being overlooked.

Who is the founder of Lawtrades?

A good one can help you get started on the right foot (or deal with rival companies.) Raad Ahmed, CEO and Founder of LawTrades, a site that helps people find a lawyer and get legal advice, explained that earlier is better if you think you need a lawyer, even if your case doesn't go to court.

Do your experiences matter in court?

It's not that your experiences don't matter , but some things that you may think are critical ("The cop didn't read me my rights before he cuffed me!") just aren't important to a court (in some situations, they're not required to). Mention those types of things once, and then continue to the next point.

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.

The attorneys at GillespieShields practice family, employment, civil, criminal, probate, appellate, and immigration law

ou are in need of legal counsel, it is important to know what to do before contacting a family law attorney. There are five things you should do before getting in touch with an attorney that will help your case be processed more smoothly.

1. Prepare Your Documents In Advance

Preparing your information ahead of time will reduce the number of questions that you need to answer. It also allows for a quicker process overall because it is easier and faster to gather documents than having an attorney do it on your behalf.

2. Examine The Components Of Your Case

When you contact a family law attorney, they will ask for details about your case. If you have not done any research on the elements of your specific case and how it relates to local laws in your area, then you may find yourself giving incorrect information that could be detrimental to your situation.

4. Prepare A Family Matter Summary Outline

Before discussing your family matter with a family law attorney, you must first do some preparation work. This way when the time comes to contact an attorney, everything will be ready and waiting for them in order to get started right away.

5. Make Sure To Keep Copies Of Your Files

There are many reasons to keep track of your own files when you are involved with a family law issue. First, it is important because if you lose touch with an attorney, then there may still be information that was not shared during the initial consultation.

Are You Looking for a Family Law Attorney You Can Trust?

The attorneys at GillespieShields are well-versed in a variety of different legal fields, ranging from family law to civil suits, employment disputes, and probate cases. Although we specialize in several areas of practice, our greatest passion is family law.