what to expect in free consultation with an attorney

by Dr. Deangelo Schulist I 6 min read

In your criminal defense attorney free consultation, the lawyer will want to first get some basic information about you, the charges, and your current situation. You should expect the lawyer to ask you for: Your full name Your contact information

During your consultation, the attorney will ask about the issues in your case and discuss the merits of the actions and the various ways you can proceed. There will then be a mutual selection process.

Full Answer

What happens at an initial consultation with a lawyer?

Nov 16, 2020 · 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.

How do I find a good lawyer to consult?

Jun 28, 2021 · Here’s how to make the most of your free consultation. Tell the attorney your story, in detail You need to explain what happened in …

What should I look for when hiring a lawyer?

Most law firms offer a free legal consultation prior to taking on your case. This is your opportunity to discuss your case with a legal representative and discuss how they can help. By initiating contact with a lawyer for this consultation, you are not obligated to hire them. This consultation gives you the opportunity to get a copy of your potential contract and compare contracts …

How can I Ask an independent attorney in depth legal questions?

Aug 03, 2021 · The Attorney Will Discuss Long-Term Implications With You Make sure that you also speak long-term and in broad strokes about the circumstances. Choose an honest lawyer that offers both best case and worst case scenarios, and how you can realistically expect the matter to play out.

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How do I prepare for a lawyer 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 does it mean to provide you with a free consultation?

So, when a lawyer says that he or she will provide a free consultation it means that they will sit down with you, hear about your problem, and give you some initial thoughts about it, at no charge or obligation to you. This meeting gives you a chance to "interview" the lawyer and the lawyer the chance to interview you.Oct 17, 2011

What does a consultation consist of?

Consultation definition A meeting to discuss, decide, or plan something, as a meeting of several doctors to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of a patient. A conference for the exchange of information and advice.

Are free consultations really free?

It's true: Free legal consultations really are free. Don't hesitate to take advantage of them if you were injured and want to find out about your legal options.Jul 2, 2015

What is a initial consultation?

An initial consultation is the first time that you are able to speak one-on-one with an attorney. Both you and the attorney have a chance here to learn about each other. The lawyer will learn about the details of your case while you learn about the lawyer and the firm.Aug 30, 2020

What is an attorney called?

A lawyer (also called attorney, counsel, or counselor) is a licensed professional who advises and represents others in legal matters. Today's lawyer can be young or old, male or female.Sep 10, 2019

What is a consultation fee?

Consultation Fee means a fee paid by a consumer to a debt management services provider in connection with the processing of any application that the consumer makes for debt management services.

What is proper consultation?

variable noun. A consultation is a meeting which is held to discuss something. Consultation is discussion about something. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary.

What is a good sentence for consult?

1 If you wish good advice, consult an old man. 2 I have to consult the manager about the matter. 3 I decided to consult a medical dictionary. 4 If the pain continues, consult your doctor.Jul 24, 2020

What is an attorney in the UK?

Lawyer is a general term referring to anyone who is qualified to give legal advice as a licensed legal practitioner. This includes solicitors and barristers. Solicitors provide legal support, advice and services to clients, who can be individuals, private companies, public sector organisations or other groups.

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 is retainer in a trust account?

A retainer is basically a down payment for the attorney’s work. It is kept in a trust account and remains your money and refundable until the attorney earns it. This is a great time to ask the attorney any questions that you have, including questions about his or her experience with cases like yours.

What is retainer in a case?

A retainer is basically a down payment for the attorney’s work.

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.

Tell the attorney your story, in detail

You need to explain what happened in the incident that caused your injury, start to finish. If your injury happened over a period of time instead of in a single incident, start from the beginning and describe the situation in as much detail as you can. Don’t leave anything out.

Bring whatever evidence you have

Personal injury cases are all about evidence. You have to prove that someone else caused your injury and that you sustained damages (financial losses) as a result of the injury. As such, a review of the available evidence is an important part of your free consultation.

Be prepared for some tough questions

Let’s address the elephant in the room first: there are some people who fake or exaggerate their injuries and go to a personal injury lawyer thinking they can make easy money. They’re not even close to the majority of people who walk into our offices, but they do exist, and they make things harder for everyone else.

Be prepared to ask your own questions, too

A consultation is a two-way street: the attorney is deciding whether to take your case, and you’re deciding whether to hire the attorney. To get a sense of whether a given lawyer is the right fit for you, use these questions as a starting point:

Make sure you ask about fees and costs

Personal injury attorneys almost always work on a contingency fee basis, which means the fee depends on the outcome of your case. If the attorney gets you a settlement or a verdict awarding you money, their fee will be a percentage of that recovery.

Feel free to talk to multiple attorneys before you decide

Again, finding the right fit is critical. If you aren’t sure you’re completely comfortable with one personal injury lawyer, talk to one or two more.

The Firm Will Teach You About State Personal Injury Laws

Anytime you hire a personal injury lawyer, you’re hiring someone you can count on to lend you their expertise. The quickest and most pertinent way to test their grasp on the law is during the consultation.

You Should Come Prepared With Whatever Evidence You Have

You’ll need to gather some solid evidence to prove your case. While proper evidence gathering and fact-finding takes some time, start with where you’re at, and bring anything documented to the consultation.

The Attorney Will Discuss Long-Term Implications With You

Make sure that you also speak long-term and in broad strokes about the circumstances. Choose an honest lawyer that offers both best case and worst case scenarios, and how you can realistically expect the matter to play out.

You Should Seek a Consultation as Quickly as Possible

Time is of the essence when it comes to any personal injury case. There’s a statute of limitations that you’ll need to think about, in addition to just giving your lawyer as much time as possible to begin working on your case.

Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer You Can Find

When you consider the points above, you’re steps away from researching personal injury lawyer firms so that you can book a consultation and find the right fit. Suffering personal injuries can be incredibly traumatic, and you can’t afford to not hire the best lawyers for your case.

What To Expect During a Free, Confidential Consultation

If you were injured in a preventable accident, you may be wondering about what takes place during a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Napa, San Francisco, or elsewhere in California.

Bring Relevant Paperwork with You

Your Napa personal injury attorney will want to look over any paperwork, documents, photographs, etc. that you have concerning the accident.

Discussing the Applicable Laws for Your Particular Case

Once you have given your account of what happened and explained your harms and losses, your attorney will provide a general assessment on the viability of your personal injury case.

Discussing Legal Fees and Signing Documents

Once you and your attorney have discussed possible options, strategies, and a general plan of action, it is time to handle the logistics. The Los Angeles and San Jose personal injury attorneys with RS Law Offices takes cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we will only be paid for our work when we recover compensation for your harms and losses.

Going to Work for You

After you have covered all the information above, and the contract and documents are signed, an attorney with RS Law Offices will go to work for you. They will notify the insurance company (s) of their demands, and negotiations will begin.

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 ...

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.

What To Look For In A Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you or someone in your family has been accused of a crime, you’ll want to know what to look for in a criminal defense lawyer. The process isn’t complicated; however, your choice can dramatically impact the outcome of your case and thus your long-term future.

What To Expect From Our Free Criminal Defense Consultation

When you’re in need of a Harrisonburg criminal defense attorney, you should take full advantage of free consultations offered by lawyers in the area in order to decide which criminal defense lawyer will be the best advocate for your case.

About Attorney-Client Privilege

If you’re looking for an immigration lawyer or criminal defense attorney in Harrisonburg VA, you may have questions about confidentiality and your visit to our office.

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