Coming Prepared for Your Legal Consultation

Most people will spend much of their life trying to avoid the need to take legal action in any scenario. However, life is not that simple. There are things we cannot change or avoid. Accidents can and do happen, which leads many of us needing assistance from a trusted attorney. There is no shame in this. After all, attorneys are there to help you navigate difficult and confusing situations. Whether you’ve been in a car accident, a workplace accident, slip-and-fall accident, or other accident types, you may have to turn to an attorney.

Before you choose an attorney, you will first need to set up a legal consultation. During this initial meeting, an attorney will learn as much about your case as possible, giving them an idea of the challenge at hand. However, you must provide them with the right information. If not, they may not feel comfortable taking the case, or they can’t help you as well as they’d like. You must come prepared for your legal consultation. When you do, you set yourself and your attorney up for success.

The Green Law Firm is here to provide all our clients with excellent legal service, dedicating ourselves to fighting for the justice you deserve. However, the initial legal consultation is a vital step in this process. We need all the appropriate information to help us fight for your desired outcome.

What is a Legal Consultation?

No one wants to be put in a situation that requires them to seek legal support. However, some things are out of our control. Even if you take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself from an accident, you can’t control the actions of others. Someone else’s negligence can lead to an accident where you are either hurt, suffer property damage, or lose a loved one. In these situations, legal action should be taken.

Once you have found an attorney you are interested in working with, you will set up a legal consultation. You must understand that this does not count as the beginning of legal representation. These meetings are relatively short. They can be done in person, on the phone, over email, or via video chat.

During this consultation, you will present the facts of your case to the attorney to which they will explain the legal implications in general terms. This consultation allows the attorney to decide if they want to take your case or not. If the attorney agrees to take your case and you like what you hear from them, you should schedule a follow-up appointment. This next step will provide you with more information about what to do next.

What to Bring

You cannot go to a legal consultation empty-handed. You must bring all the right information to better inform the attorney. Additionally, you should also create a list of questions to ask the attorney so that you get a better idea of who they are, how they work, and how they can best assist you. These meetings are short, so you want to make sure that you get the most out of this consultation. You must come prepared. There is information that you should always provide an attorney, such as your legal name, home address, phone number, email address, employer’s name, address, and phone number, etc.

However, there is much more that you must bring with you.

Relevant Case Information

In this initial legal consultation, this is an attorney’s chance to be introduced to not only you but also your case. If you are upfront about the case early, you set your attorney up for success. To streamline your initial consultation, write your story down in chronological order with great detail. Include key dates and the names of all parties involved. If possible, keep your story simple, only focusing on the important details of the case. Always include:

• Names of all those involved
• Date of the initial disputes and any that followed
• Type of case
• Key aspects of your case, such as the “who, what, when, where, how, and why.”

You must remember to explain to the attorney what your desired outcome is so that you are both on the same page.

Relevant Documents and Evidence

Along with general information about your case, your attorney will likely want to see any documents and evidence that may factor into the decision of your case. Not only will this provide them with a better idea of the case, but it also helps them assess how strong of a case you have.

Each case will vary, so the documents and evidence you would provide for one type won’t be relevant for another. However, generally, you should bring:

• Any contracts (leases, employment agreements, and more)
• Financial documents
• Communication between you and any relevant parties, which include texts, emails, letters, or more
• Photos, whether from the scene of the case or relevant to your case
• Police reports
• Witness statements and contact information

By collecting all this information beforehand, you give your attorney a head start.

Questions to Ask

While your attorney will likely have many questions for you regarding your case, you should also create a list of questions to ask them. After all, this legal consultation is not only a chance for them to understand your case but for you to learn about them. Before you meet with an attorney, try to create a list of questions to ask. Some questions to ask could be:

• Have you worked a similar case before?
• How will the other side react to this case?
• What other information do you need?
• Do you have experience representing the opposing side on this issue?
• Are there any glaring issues you see with my case?
• What are my options going forward, both legal and non-legal?
• How do you charge for your services?
• If possible, can you estimate how long this case may take?
• What is the process you would take for this specific case?
• Would you handle my case personally, or would it be passed along to another member of your firm? If so, can I meet them before agreeing to representation?

Each case is different, so you may have different questions. Before meeting with an attorney, review your case yourself to see if you can think of any questions specific to your case.

A legal consultation is the first step in beginning the legal process. It allows you to learn more about an attorney and how they work and for them to learn about you and your case. However, you should always come prepared. When you do, you create a cooperative environment designed to help you work together to reach the desired outcome. If you’ve been involved in an accident and need legal assistance, contact The Green Law Firm today to schedule a consultation.