How Do I Prepare for An Effective Legal Consultation With A Lawyer?

what-to-expect-during-a-legal-consultation

If you're lucky enough, you might make it through your entire life without ever having to hire a lawyer. Unfortunately, lawyers are everywhere and we've embedded ourselves in many aspects of society, so that it's practically impossible to avoid hiring us for something. If you want to avoid any troubles with buying your first house, you hire a lawyer. If you want to write a will and ensure that your assets and family are protected, you hire a lawyer. So, when the day finally arrives that you've found yourself in a situation that requires a lawyer, it's important that you come prepared to your first legal consultation, so that the lawyer is in the best position possible to provide the advice, counsel and support that you're seeking.

Before you meet with a lawyer, the first thing you should do is piece together the facts and circumstances of your legal issue. Do your best to recall the situation that caused you to need a lawyer, so that you're prepared to discuss the events in fine detail during the consultation. Of course, depending on the matter, parsing through the facts can be quick and to the point, like in a real estate transaction or drawn out and thorough, like dealing with something such as complex business litigation. As a part of any legal consultation, the lawyer will walk you through the facts and ask questions to help build a bigger picture of the situation, so that they can adequately assess the matter and advise you accordingly.

Based on the nature of your legal issue, you may already have paperwork, documents, a contract, etc. that you're prepared to review with the lawyer. In fact, your legal matter may directly correspond to a document in your possession. It's crucial that you keep that document in a safe and protected place, since it will likely play a factor in the ultimate success of your case. Before you arrive at the lawyer's office, or scheduled phone consultation, gather all the documents that are relevant to your legal issue and make sure that the lawyer has copies for their own review.

Most importantly, with every legal consultation, as a potential client, you are afforded the protections of the attorney-client privilege and confidentiality. Under these principles, what you say to your attorney is held in strict confidence and can only be disclosed under limited circumstances. Most attorneys will advise you of these protections at some point during the consultation; however, some cases will anticipate a more express adherence to confidentiality, especially if there are sensitive topics being discussed. Regardless, these protections are afforded to you so that you can speak openly, freely and without worry that what you say will be released to others. Furthermore, relying on confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege is critical to receiving the best legal advice. The more we know about your story, the better equipped we are to advise on the benefits and consequences of your circumstances. So, it's truly best to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, if you're seeking trustworthy legal advice.

During your consultation, the lawyer will likely be able to answer most if not all of your questions and advise you on the nature of your circumstances. So, don't be afraid to ask questions, no matter their substance. The lawyer will discuss how they can assist you, if hired, or send you in the right direction if you don't immediately require the services of a lawyer. Sometimes, the lawyer may be required to research your issue further, which they will advise you on and request a follow up meeting to review the results of their research.

Finally, once the consultation is complete, you will then have the option to move forward with hiring the lawyer or decline to engage their services. While the decision is ultimately yours to make, the lawyer also has the option to decline representing you. If the lawyer feels that they cannot adequately assist you or chooses not to represent you, they may do so. If you both agree to form an attorney-client relationship, the lawyer will provide you with a copy of their retainer agreement for your review and signature. If either of you choose to walk away, the lawyer will recommend other resources for finding a suitable lawyer for your situation.

In short, you can ensure a successful legal consultation if you follow these steps:

Review and reflect on the facts and circumstances of your legal issue and be prepared to discuss them in detail.
Bring any documents, contracts, paperwork etc. to your consultation, especially if your legal issue directly corresponds to one of these documents.
Speak openly and honestly about the facts and circumstances of your legal issue. Remember that your consultation comes with the protections of the attorney-client privilege and confidentiality, so don't hesitate to share the full breadth of your circumstances, as the entire story and all the positive/negative details are relevant in receiving adequate legal advice.
Be ready to ask any and all questions that you have pertaining to your legal issue.

Disclaimer: This blog post and similar posts are not to be considered as providing legal advice. The discussion here is meant for educational and informational purposes only and shall not create an attorney-client relationship with the readers of this content.