What to Prepare Before Meeting a Lawyer

A legal consultation is most useful when the client arrives prepared. The lawyer must understand the parties, dates, documents, risk and desired outcome. A short timeline is often more useful than a long emotional explanation because it allows the legal issue to be identified quickly.

Before the consultation, prepare a written summary covering what happened, who was involved, what documents exist, what steps have already been taken and what result you want. Then gather the supporting documents. These may include contracts, identity documents, company records, court papers, payslips, notices, proof of payment, letters, photographs or screenshots.

Clients should also prepare questions. Good questions include: what are my options, what documents are missing, what deadlines apply, what are the risks, and what should I avoid doing until I receive advice?

A client portal helps because documents can be uploaded before the meeting and the office can ask for missing information early.

This article provides general information only and should not be treated as legal advice. Every matter must be assessed on its own facts, documents and applicable law.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Specific matters should be assessed on their own facts and documents.

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