questions to ask when first meeting an attorney

What questions should I ask in an initial meeting with a lawyer?

What Questions Should I Ask in an Initial Meeting with a Lawyer? What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case? An attorney familiar with your area of law should be able to the strengths of your case and what ... What is the likely outcome? A good attorney will rarely predict the outcome of your ...

What questions should I ask my divorce lawyer?

Now you know the questions to ask a divorce attorney on the first visit. The next step is meeting with experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorneys. There is no substitute for legal advice from and representation by an experienced California family law attorney. We believe good men and women deserve great family law representation.

How can I speed up the process of meeting with a lawyer?

Apr 01, 2018 · Questions to Ask a Probate Attorney at the First Meeting April 1, 2018 By // by Brian Douglas Following the death of a loved one, the thought of going through probate for that person’s estate can seem daunting.

What should I expect during an initial consultation with an attorney?

Jan 14, 2021 · What To Ask A Divorce Lawyer On Your First Visit. 1. Ask them to describe their approach to the divorce process. Each lawyer you speak to should have a slightly different answer to this. Sure, the ... 2. Ask about communication. How will they check in with you throughout the process? 3. Ask how ...

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Feb 09, 2022 · Asking the right questions at your first meeting with a divorce lawyer is the best way to determine whether the legal advisor is a good fit for your situation. Additionally, the answers can help you move forward through the process even if you decide you need to look further to find the right divorce lawyer.

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 are some good questions to 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...•Jan 29, 2017

What should you expect when meeting the lawyer for the first time?

To prepare for this first meeting, you should do your homework and collect all the relevant documents you think you many need to present your case such as medical records, witness statements, police reports or receipts. Next, you should write down a summary of any memory you had from the incident.Sep 4, 2019

What questions should I ask a startup lawyer?

7 questions to ask your startup lawyerDo You Work With Companies Comparable to Mine? ... How Do You Bill? ... Will I Be Comfortable Working With You? ... What Is Your Focus? ... What Is Your Past Experience? ... Are You the Best in the City? ... What Is Your Age and Experience With Technology?Aug 3, 2013

How do I prepare for an attorney interview?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ... Be presentable and dress your best. ... Come prepared to ask questions. ... Be personable and show enthusiasm. ... Be genuine. ... Promptly send a thank-you note.Oct 28, 2020

What do you say when talking 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...•Aug 4, 2015

What are some things attorneys and clients might talk about when they first meet?

Explain how the firm operates, what type of cases are generally handled, and how the firm will likely handle this particular case. Additionally, attorneys meeting with new clients should briefly explain their experience, education, and any noteworthy cases that could apply to the case at hand.Aug 13, 2019

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.

Why would a good lawyer not tell a client how their case will come out at the initial consultation?

Why would a good lawyer not tell a client how their case will come out at the initial consultation? A good lawyer knows that every case is different and without doing research. A good lawyer will not guarantee the outcome of any case.

What are some basic questions to ask when deciding on the legal form to choose for a small business?

Here the factors are presented in the form of questions you can ask yourself:Who will be the owners of the company? ... What level of liability protection do you require, especially for your personal assets? ... How do you expect to distribute the company's earnings?More items...•Mar 26, 2016

What questions should I ask a corporate lawyer?

General QuestionsHow long have you been practicing law?What do you specialize in?What are your main roles and duties? What goes beyond that scope?How do you bill?What companies do you generally work with? ... Are you experienced with startups?Are you familiar with the laws of incorporation in my specific state?

What questions should you ask when buying a business?

15 Questions To Ask When Buying A BusinessWhy Are They Selling The Business? ... Can I Personally Add To This Business? ... How Has The Company Been Valued In The Past? ... How Is The Business' Financial Health? ... What Assets Are Included In The Sale? ... What Does The Competition Look Like? ... What Is The Future Of This Industry?More items...•Mar 19, 2021

What is an associate attorney?

Associates are less experienced attorneys that work under the main attorney, who directs and supervises their work.

What are the expenses of an attorney?

Expenses are the hard costs that the attorney spends in the case that are usually billed back to the client. Examples of some expenses include court filing fees, fees for records, depositions fees or expert witness fess. Typically, a client is responsible for both fees and expenses.

Can a lawyer predict the outcome of a case?

A good attorney will rarely predict the outcome of your case because many variables may affect the end result. He or she should be able to tell you the outcomes of similar cases, however. A good attorney will usually not promise you a specific outcome, especially in a personal injury or criminal defense situation.

What can a divorce attorney do for you?

An experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorney will provide you with the tools to communicate better with your spouse. These tools include how to communicate with your spouse, when to communicate with your spouse and how to diffuse conflict.

How to plan your life after a divorce?

If you want to plan your life after a divorce, you should at least have a general idea of how long divorces similar to yours take. This planning will also help you prepare a budget for the cost of divorce. The attorney should truthfully tell you there is no way to predict exactly how long a divorce will take.

What is spousal support?

Spousal support, also called alimony, is either temporary or ordered at the final judgment. Most divorce cases include both temporary spousal support and spousal support at the judgment phase. We are not going to go into a lengthy discussion about spousal support.

What to discuss with a divorce lawyer?

During your first meeting with a lawyer, you can discuss potential strategies to better manage the cost of a divorce. Of course, the cost does not all depend on you or your lawyer – your spouse and his or her lawyer will play a big role in the ultimate cost. 3.

What is the process of filing for divorce?

The process includes filing for divorce, serving or notifying the other party, gathering information, possible temporary orders to address child custody, support and managing assets during the divorce, and some form of resolution through either a settlement agreement or a court hearing.

Is divorce difficult?

Divorces are difficult even in the best of circumstances. Every divorce is very different, and the timing and difficulty of the process will depend on the issues that the parties need to resolve and the level of cooperation between the parties. However, most divorces follow a similar process.

What to do after death of a loved one?

It helps to come prepared before meeting with a probate attorney to help the process go smoothly.

What is probate law?

Probate law also has a specific order by which creditors are to be paid. It is important that the executor get this information to appropriately pay creditors before closing the estate to avoid any future liability.

What is the goal of hiring an attorney?

For many women, the ‘goal’ of hiring an attorney may simply be “get me outta this marriage!” But honing in on what you want your life to look like after the divorce dust has settled can be a useful tool for identifying how you want to work through the process of ending your marriage.

Can you represent yourself in divorce?

Most states allow individuals to represent themselves in the divorce process. And, it’s more common than you think: 80 percent of divorces involve at least one party representing themselves. Lots of people go this route – which means you can, too.

Is it a good idea to talk to a lawyer about divorce?

If you’ve made up your mind and there’s no alternative but divorce, talking to at least a few lawyers is always a good idea. The first consultation is usually always free, so you’ve got nothing to lose. But, you can gain a lot of information during attorney interviews if you head into the conversation armed with the right questions.