what is a consultaiont consist of with an attorney

A consultation with an attorney is basically an introduction to your circumstances and a review of how the attorney may help you. The purpose of a consultation is two-fold. First, it is to determine if you need the retain the services of an attorney.

Full Answer

What happens at a consultation with a law firm?

In addition to asking questions about the firm, the representative will also use the consultation to ask you questions about your case. They may ask about: If the law firm’s representative thinks you may have a strong case, they will recommend what to do next.

What is the purpose of a free consultation with an attorney?

The purpose of a free consultation is not to obtain specific legal advice in the consultation, but rather to allow you to determine whether you would like to hire the attorney and to allow the attorney to determine whether he or she can help you achieve your legal goals. What Happens During an Initial Consultation with an Attorney?

What is the purpose of a consultation?

He has experience in litigation, estate planning, bankruptcy, real estate, and comprehensive business representation. The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs.

What can I ask the representative during the consultation?

During the consultation, you can ask important questions about the firm’s experience and your case. More information on questions to ask is provided below. In addition to asking questions about the firm, the representative will also use the consultation to ask you questions about your case. They may ask about:

What do you talk about at a lawyer consultation?

During the consultation, the attorney will listen to the facts of your case and give you advice on the best way to approach each issue. Be candid and truthful with the attorney and tell him or her all pertinent facts related to your case, both good and bad.

What happens at 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 prepare for an attorney meeting?

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.

Is a consultation confidential?

In general, as long as the prospective client is seeking legal advice or representation and reasonably believes the communication will be confidential, the consultation is privileged. This is so even if the would-be client never pays or hires the attorney.

How long is a consultant appointment?

Your appointment can take from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on your needs. We sometimes need to carry out further tests on the same day, or we may ask you to come back another day. But we will always fully explain why we need to do any extra tests and any associated costs.

Is a consultation the same as an assessment?

Consultation and Assessment Consultation is defined as the act of seeking information; to get or ask advice from; to confer with; and to advise professionally. Assessment includes appraisal and design around program planning and evaluation.

How do you approach 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...•

Are lawyer consultations confidential?

Your duty of confidentiality also exists in common law, stemming from the relationship between lawyer and client. The common law has not developed clear exceptions to this duty. In contrast, solicitor-client privilege only applies to communications between you and your client for the purpose of legal advice.

Can lawyers talk about cases with their spouses?

Under attorney-client privilege, lawyers are not allowed to divulge the details of anything their clients tell them in a court of law. In addition to that, The Duty of Confidentiality protects clients from having their lawyers casually discuss the private details of their case outside of court.

What happens if privileged information is voluntarily disclosed to a third party?

The privilege shields from discovery advice given by the attorney to the client as well as communications from the client to the attorney. Voluntary disclosure of privileged communications to a third party results in waiver of the attorney-client privilege unless an exception applies.

What to ask an attorney at an initial consultation?

At the initial consultation the attorney will generally ask you to give him or her a brief description of what you need help with. At this point, the attorney is not looking for the whole story, but a brief summary. He or she will then ask you a series of targeted questions in order to determine:

What is the purpose of a free consultation?

The purpose of a free consultation is not to obtain specific legal advice in the consultation, but rather to allow you to determine whether you would like to hire the attorney and to allow the attorney to determine whether he or she can help you achieve your legal goals.

What does an attorney do when you have an understanding of your case?

Once the attorney has an understanding of your case, he or she will typically let you know what your legal options are, your prospects of success in achieving your goals, and how much he or she expects this to cost.

Can an attorney give free legal advice?

The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client. Attorneys don’t give legal advice without first being retained ...

Do attorneys give free consultations?

Many attorneys offer both free consultations and paid consultations, depending on what you are trying to accomplish. The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client.

How to think of a lawyer consultation?

Try to think of your lawyer consultation as a combination of an interview and an informational session. Your potential lawyer will use this time to determine if they can help you, so you should use the time to consider whether or not that attorney is the right fit for your needs. If you can go into the process understanding what’s going to happen, you will have a much better chance of getting everything you need out of your consultation.

What is initial consultation?

First and foremost, your initial consultation with an attorney is the time when you first meet that person face to face. While you can do an awful lot of research about a lawyer online, nothing is as important as the meeting you’ll have with them for the first time. You will get not only a chance to learn a bit about the attorney, but you’ll also be able to get a feeling as to whether or not this is a person with whom you would like to work in the future.

Why do people work with lawyers?

While most people think of working with a lawyer as something that only happens when a crime is committed, the truth is that the reasons you might work with an attorney range from adopting a child to starting a new business. Every working relationship begins with a consultation, though, and understanding what will happen during that consultation is an excellent way to prepare yourself to get the most you can out of that meeting.

S. Michael Graham

Both Roy and Matt have set out the basic process. I agree you need a lawyer to have your best chance for success. Basically a lawyer wants to give you an over-the-phone interview to see if your claim has merit and if the lawyer would be able to assist you.

Matthew Bruce Lewis

In addition to Mr. Warren’s answer, we would want to take a look at the documents you described. You may think your causation evidence is awesome, but legally it might not be. We just need to check it out and make sure it doesn’t need to get beefed up a little. Just because the DD is in your corner doesn’t mean you will win.

Roy Lee Warren

The consultation really depends on the lawyer. Some spend the time trying to convince you that you need a lawyer (you really do). It could be on the phone limiting travel time for each party. On a consult I would make sure you understand the Ombudsman does not represent you but assists you.

What is the purpose of a divorce consultation?

The main purpose of the consultation is to discuss your case. Essentially, you are having a conversation with the lawyer about your pending divorce, and you should be the one doing most of the talking.

What is the first consultation?

The initial consultation is a great opportunity to get a “feel” for the attorney and determine whether he or she is a good fit for you. Asking questions can help you gauge the attorney’s competence and whether you will get along well.

What to discuss at the end of a lawyer meeting?

Towards the end of the meeting, the attorney will discuss the fees charged for his or her services. The attorney should divulge his or her hourly rate as well as the amount of the initial retainer and how often you will be billed for services.

What are the issues that a divorce attorney will discuss?

After gathering information about your case, the attorney will discuss any potential issues that you may face during the divorce, such as custody and parenting time. Financial aspects will also be discussed, including child support, alimony, equitable distribution, college tuition, real estate, debts and other assets.

What information do divorce attorneys need?

Along with the details of your case, the divorce attorney will also gather some basic personal information, including your: address, phone number and email address. The attorney will also want to gather background information, which may include:

How to get divorce information?

Along with the details of your case, the divorce attorney will also gather some basic personal information, including your: address, phone number and email address. The attorney will also want to gather background information, which may include: 1 The date of the marriage 2 Employment information of both spouses 3 Names and ages of the children 4 Income information, including assets and debts 5 Whether or not there was a prenuptial agreement in place

How to get an attorney consultation?

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. If you have used an attorney in the past for something else, ask him or her for a referral. It is also helpful to ask family and friends for names.

What to ask a lawyer before 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. You can find out basics on the firm’s web site before the appointment, which will save you time. You may want to ask how many of this type of case the attorney has handled. For example, how many divorces has this lawyer done in the past year? A lawyer who has done one or two is not very experienced. You may wish to ask how long the attorney has been practicing law and how long he or she has practiced in your county or area, which will give you an idea how familiar the lawyer is with local judges and procedures. 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.

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.