Your First Visit to the Lawyer's Office: Important Tips

You have a legal problem and have scheduled an appointment with a lawyer to discuss your case. The meeting will likely be brief – the majority of initial lawyer/client meetings last approximately thirty minutes. You have a small amount of time to assess whether this lawyer is the right lawyer to represent you. Likewise, the lawyer has a small amount of time to analyze your legal problem and decide whether or not to accept your case. Needless to say, the first meeting with your lawyer involves very important decisions.

The following tips will help optimize your first meeting with a lawyer:

Bring the Important Documents

It is crucial that you bring with you every important document that relates to your case. Documents will assist the lawyer achieve the best understanding your legal problem or issue in the limited time available. Even if you feel that you have good understanding of your case, documents will help fill in any missing gaps.

Be Honest

Tell your lawyer all the important facts, including facts that you feel hurt your case.  It is to your benefit to hear a frank and objective assessment of the strengths and weakness of your case.  Further, your lawyer will be better able to handle problematic facts if he or she knows about them in advance. Note that everything you tell your lawyer is fully confidential and protected by lawyer-client privilege. This means that the lawyer is obligated to keep everything you say to him or her confidential, even if you decide not to hire the lawyer.  

Ask Questions

For many people, the first visit to a lawyer’s office can be an intimidating experience. Don’t be scared of asking a “stupid question”. Asking questions is a crucial element of understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Ensure that the lawyer explains the basic legal issues involved and the different options that you have. Further, ask the lawyer to provide you with an estimated timeline of upcoming procedural steps.

Discuss the Lawyers Fees. 

Ensure that you discuss how much the lawyer is going to charge you for his services and how often (monthly, bimonthly, etc.). If the lawyer is taking your case on a contingency basis (does not charge up-front fees but takes a percentage of any monetary damages you receive), ensure that you know the percentage that the lawyer will be entitled to.