What to do in Preparation for your First Meeting with your Attorney
The outcome of a meeting with an attorney for the first time is usually unknown and causes a little bit of stress and anxiety. But it also gives you the opportunity to find out if the lawyer is good enough to be your representative in court.
Meeting with an attorney for the first time is very important, but a lot of people have little or no experience with lawyers. In this post, we have outlined tips that can help you make the most of your first meeting with an attorney.
- Schedule an appointment
Schedule your appointment in advance as this will help both parties prepare well for the meeting. It is also important for you to know whether the lawyer is going to charge you for your first appointment. Some lawyers charge while some offer free consultation for the first meeting.
- Have your case outline and questions ready
Prior to your appointment, make sure you write down a list of questions you have and information you want to share regarding your meeting. This helps you to keep your discussion with the attorney right on track. Some lawyers will most likely issue questionnaires relating to your issues to you during the meeting, but it would much better for you to ask questions also and share important information with him/her. This will help the attorney know the specific issues you have. Remember that the attorney will keep this information confidential unless you give permission, or the law requires it to be disclosed.
- Bring all relevant documents
In addition to writing questions and disclosing relevant information to the lawyer, make sure that you gather any documents and evidence that you think might be relevant to your case. This will help to validate the information you have and assess your case. Examples of documents and evidence include court documents, police reports, medical records, receipts for relevant expenses, financial information, birth certificates, marriage certificates, cell phone texts, emails, photos, audio recordings and videos.
- Take Notes
Endeavour to come with a pen and paper. It is quite easy to forget whatever the lawyer says about your case. To save yourself from these trouble, write down every little and important detail of your case.
- Be honest
Make sure that you answer all questions asked by your attorney honestly.
- Ask about any conflict of interest.
Before you get too far in the meeting, it is a wise to ask your lawyer if there is any possible conflict of interest that might prevent him/her from ethically representing you.
Preparing for an appointment will save you time, energy and money. It is in your best interest to be fully prepared for the first appointment with your lawyer so they will have enough information to handle your case.