what to look for when consulting with your attorney

Questions that you should ask during a legal consultation may include questions regarding the attorneys background and qualifications, the attorneys fee arrangement, and specific questions about your case. For instance, in a divorce case, you may want to ask the attorney what their legal strategy is for obtaining child custody or alimony.

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How do I find a good lawyer to consult?

When consulting with an attorney for the first time, you should be sure to bring with you all paperwork related to the matter you will be discussing, for example: copies of court orders, prenuptial agreements, judgments, and other contracts.

What happens during a consultation with a lawyer?

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. Your Contact Information. Regardless of the type of legal matter, your lawyer will want to know who you are and how to contact you.

What should I look for when hiring a lawyer?

Jan 26, 2010 · The more information you can supply the attorney, the more case-specific advice you will gain from your consultation. Bringing your paystubs, tax returns, credit card statements, and other such financial documents allows the attorney to be more specific when talking about property division and child/spousal support.

What does a lawyer want to know when meeting you?

Jul 22, 2019 · Legal Claims and Facts: It may seem obvious, but a consultation will always include a discussion of the legal facts and your legal claims. It is important to be honest in telling the attorney about your particular case, as lying about the facts or circumstances surrounding your case will lead to criminal sanctions or other civil penalties.

What questions should I ask at a lawyer consultation?

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

How do I prepare my first consultation with a lawyer?

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...

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.

What should you expect from a good lawyer?

What You Should Expect From Your LawyerGive you advice about your legal situation.Stay in contact and keep you informed about your case.Tell you what they think will happen in your case.Allow you to make the important decisions regarding your case.Give you an estimate about what your case should cost.More items...•Jan 4, 2022

What are six examples of cases when a lawyer should be contacted?

11 Situations Where You Need A Lawyer (And 3 Where You Don't!)A Complex or Nasty Divorce. ... A Wrongful Termination or Discrimination in the Workplace. ... Law Suits. ... A DUI. ... Drug Charges. ... A Car Accident with Injury. ... Criminal Charges. ... Wills and Trusts.More items...

How can I communicate with my lawyer?

Stay informed about your case.Take notes if you talk to your lawyer in person or over the telephone. Store your notes in the same place. ... Always review your notes before contacting your attorney. The answer to your question may be in your notes.Your lawyer should also send you copies of documents filed in your case.

What do you wear to meet with a lawyer?

The standard attire for meeting with you lawyer should be business casual. Wear dress pants, a nice shirt or top. Women should wear a conservative dress or skirt. ... If you need to refer to a document, pull out what you have and be sure to give it to your attorney.Sep 4, 2019

What should a lawyer do in the first meeting with a client?

During the New Client Consultation, Every Lawyer Should…Be Clear about Any Consultation Fees. ... Introduce the Firm and Working Attorneys' Experience as Is Relevant to the Case. ... Be Attentive. ... Showcase Knowledge and Know-How. ... Engage with Specifics. ... Discuss the Process.More items...•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.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021

How often should I hear from my attorney?

You should never be afraid or feel like an intrusion to contact your attorney every three weeks or so, or more frequently if there is a lot going on with your health or other matters related to your legal case. There is of course a limit to how much you should be contacting or sharing.Jun 17, 2020

How do I know if my lawyer is good?

So if you're curious, use these five quick ways to research whether your lawyer is legit:State Bar Profile. Every lawyer who is licensed to practice law in your home state must be listed in your state bar association's directory. ... Google / Search Engines. ... Yelp. ... The Attorney's Own Website. ... Third-Party Rating Groups.Sep 18, 2014

What is flat fee billing?

Some types of cases can involve a combination of all three billing methods. The flat fee method of billing is often applied in cases of uncontested divorce and in drafting of trust and estate documents such as wills , living wills, ...

What is contingency fee billing?

Personal injury lawyers often bill on a contingency fee basis. With contingency fee billing, the client pays little or no out-of-pocket costs. The attorney seeks an award of damages for the client. The attorney’s fee constitutes a pre-arranged percentage of that award. Contingency fee billing is prohibited in divorce matters.

What is hourly billing?

Hourly fee billing is often used in contested divorce cases where there are disputes regarding the marital assets, spousal and child support, child custody, and parenting time. Hourly fee billing is also used with civil litigation and criminal matters where there will be multiple court appearances, research and writing and motion practice.

What do lawyers want to see in a case?

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.

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 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.

Let the Attorney Know the Purpose of your Visit

Let the Attorney Know the Purpose of your Visit.#N#First of all, remember that this is YOUR time with the attorney. Therefore, you need to step up, call the shots and determine the course of your consultation. While it would be nice if the attorney specifically asked you what you wanted to talk about, don't assume that this will happen.

Take Notes

Take Notes.#N#It's a little like school--while you want to remember what is said, you don't want to be so focused on writing everything down that you miss the big picture. Remember that the consultation is also partially an interview (if you're looking to retain an attorney).

Ask Questions

Ask Questions.#N#Come prepared with a list of questions that you want answered about your case AND the firm itself. Be sure that you understand the answers and that they were answered to your satisfaction (not to be confused with liking the answers!). This is another way of learning about the attorney and his or her communication style.

Don't be Late

Don't be Late.#N#This may sound obvious, but it's a common problem. If your attorney requires an intake form to be filled out prior to the appointment, arriving on time means that part of your appointment time is used for filling out paperwork and you've just lost 10 minutes of your consultation.

Don't be Afraid to Bring Paperwork

Don't be Afraid to Bring Paperwork.#N#The more information you can supply the attorney, the more case-specific advice you will gain from your consultation.

Relax!

Relax!#N#Often times, consulting with an attorney is a person's first step in beginning a family law case. It's okay to be nervous and unsure and to not know exactly what you want to do. That's what the attorney is there for.

How to consult with an attorney?

Before consulting with an attorney you should make sure that you properly prepare for the consultation by gathering any and all documents that are relevant to your case. It is important to bring every document you have for the attorney to review, as they will be able to properly determine which documents are relevant, and which are not. Documents that you should bring with you may include any of the following: 1 Contracts: If your claim arose from a contract dispute, then you should bring copies of the contract and any documents explaining the contract; 2 Police or Accident Reports: If possible, you should bring any police or accident report that was created as a result of the incident you were involved in; 3 Property Deeds: If your claim involves a property dispute, you should be sure to bring a copy of the deed or any documents relating to the property, such as an oil and gas lease, etc.; 4 Employment Records: If you claim is an employment dispute, then you should bring all of your employment records, such as your employment contract, employment agreements, or timesheets; or 5 Other Documents Evidencing Damages: Other important documents to bring include any evidence of damages, such as medical records or expenses, or any warranties or letters created by the party you are trying to sue.

What is a legal consultation?

In short, a legal consultation is an initial meeting with an attorney that takes place before you make the decision on whether to hire that attorney to represent you in your particular legal matter. Further, the attorney will also use the consultation in order to determine if they can legally and competently represent you based on ...

How to prepare for a consultation with an attorney?

Before consulting with an attorney you should make sure that you properly prepare for the consultation by gathering any and all documents that are relevant to your case. It is important to bring every document you have for the attorney to review, as they will be able to properly determine which documents are relevant, and which are not.

What is legal advice?

Legal advice is advice given to a person that seeks the advice from an attorney, the advice given pertains to matters within the attorney’s competence, and the attorney expressly or impliedly agrees to give advice or their assistance in the matter. If such legal advice is given an implied attorney-client relationship may be formed between you ...