Get Ready to Meet With a Lawyer
Why is it important to prepare your meeting with your potential lawyer? In fact you will save a lot of time for both you and the lawyer if you are prepared for your first meeting. Being unprepared may also end up costing you money, because it will take longer for the lawyer you hire to get up to speed on your legal matter.
First the lawyer will want to know who you are and how to contact you. When you arrive at your meeting, prepare a small contact details document. It should include your home address, your work address, your home phone, your work phone, your cell phone and pager if you have one, your fax number and your email addresses. Do not leave the lawyer without giving all these pieces of information.
If your case requires it, you can to prepare a chronological summary of the facts leading up to your decision to meet with a lawyer.
Important facts must include the names of the key players in your dispute, the key events of your dispute, the he date the dispute or problem began and the current status of your dispute. Dates are very important. You must be accurate. Get a calendar and mark down dates of when things happen and when you receive any notices or other documents. Bring the calendar to your meeting to use as a reference.
Another advice is to bring altogether all the documents you may have. The documents can be contracts, correspondence including emails, photos, accident reports, employment materials like as an employee handbook, and witness statements if you have any. You should try to organize these documents and not give them in bulk to your lawyer. A lawyer may sometimes also try to speed the information gathering process by sending you a questionnaire to fill out in advance of any meeting. If it s the case make sure to fill out the questionnaire and send it in to the lawyer’s office before the meeting. Also send along copies of any available documents that may be requested in the questionnaire.
Eventually, the lawyer is likely to know about possible conflicts of interest. In order to answer completely, you should bring a list of those who may be witnesses or defendants. If the lawyer or the lawyer’s firm represents anyone on the other side of the fence, he or she will have a conflict and will usually not be able to represent you. The sooner you learn this, the better. Again you will save time and money for both of you.
