Successful agreement, Justice lawyer hand shaking with Client in courtroom.
When you are seeking a divorce or have other legal matters to which you need answers and possibly representation, you will of course seek out an attorney who has the experience and knowledge needed to help you win your case. However, if you have never dealt with a lawyer until now, you may not know what to expect during your initial meeting. To make sure all goes well, here is what will likely happen during the consultation.
Do You Have a Case?
To begin with, your attorney will speak to you in-depth about the situation you are encountering. For example, if you are filing for divorce, your attorney will want to know key details about what led to your decision, since this can impact how your case could move forward. This can be critical, especially if you are making allegations of domestic violence or abuse since you will need to have evidence such as police reports that your lawyer can use to build your case.
Paying for Services
When you speak to a divorce lawyer or other type of attorney, paying for their services will always be part of your first meeting. While your initial consultation may be free or cost very little, it will be vital you know how your lawyer will be paid if you hire them to represent you in court. While some lawyers charge flat fees, others bill by the hour. Also, ask about court costs and other fees, since you may or may not be expected to pay these as well.
Client Information Sheet
Often used in divorce cases, expect your attorney to give you a client information sheet and ask that it be filled out as accurately as possible. By providing financial information and other pertinent facts at your initial meeting, will ensure your lawyer won’t have to keep sending you a steady stream of emails or play phone tag with you to get additional information. By providing as much information as possible now, may help your case progress much faster.
It’s Your Decision
Ultimately, it is your decision whether or not to hire the attorney to whom you are speaking. Therefore, while your lawyer will be asking you various questions, remember that you should be doing the same with them. Thus, find out about their background, how much experience they have handling cases similar to yours, their track record of success with clients, and anything else you believe is important.
By knowing what to expect during your first meeting with an attorney, you can have peace of mind and be well-prepared.
