» The Consultation: Meeting with a Lawyer for the first time

The Consultation:
Meeting with a Lawyer for the first time

May 30th, 2008 · No Comments

Hiring a lawyer can often be a stressful situation, especially if the reasons for doing so are stressful - you’ve been sued or you have been wronged by someone. However, a lawyer can also help prevent or mitigate legal issues in the future - estate planning is a good example. To lessen some of the stress associated with hiring a lawyer, take the following simple steps to prepare for your initial consultation:

Make notes about the situation: Having notes with you about the situation will help you easily go over the important points during the meeting. Notes will not only help you remember the items of most importance to you, but will aslo facilitate answering any questions your lawyer may ask during the meeting.

Bring details about your situation: names, addresses and telephone numbers of everyone connected with your case (including witnesses) and copies of all contracts and other related paperwork. Some lawyers may ask to see certain paperwork before the meeting. If so, fax everything as quickly as possible so they have enough time to go over it before meeting with you.

Be frank about your expectations: The lawyer will ask you about your objective and desired outcome of the situation. If you’ve been wronged, tell your attorney about the overall damages you’ve experienced as a result of the situation - did you incur medical bills, loss of wages, other financial costs? Also, the lawyer will ask you about “pain and suffering” items, such as psychological distress.

Be honest with your lawyer: Since each case is different, you and your attorney must focus on your specific case, so don’t lie or mislead your attorney about the case. Clients sometimes try to may try to make their case look better by failing to mention damaging facts or mentioning how other cases have been resolved. Attorneys are not impressed with these representations. Be honest and direct. You and your attorney must have trust and confidence in each other to give you the best chance to resolve your claim.

For more information, contact a Lead Counsel attorney in your area today. LawInfo’s Lead Counsel attorneys can be found in virtually every area of law, including personal injury, criminal law, immigration law, family law, and business law, and are available to provide skilled and qualified legal representation.

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