If you engage a lawyer, you will want to make sure you make the most of your initial consultation.

It pays to do some preparation beforehand. This will help you get all your issues on the table, and will help ensure your lawyer gets all the information he or she needs to advise you properly on the law, your rights, and the options available to you.

We suggest you write down briefly a summary of what’s happened (including all key dates and events), any questions you have, and what your goals are. It is also useful to write down the names and contact details of all the people involved in your legal problem or case.

Bring as much information with you to your consultation as possible, including copies of any court documents, contracts, or letters about your matter. As a minimum, bring along with you the full names and contact details of all the people involved.

At your consultation, expect your lawyer to ask you a lot of questions. Your lawyer will ask questions to make sure they fully understand what has happened and what legal issues may be involved. Everything you tell your lawyer is treated in strict confidence, so you should feel free to talk frankly.

Once your lawyer has enough information, he or she will talk to you about the legal issues involved, what the applicable law is, and what your options might be going forward. If your case is complex, your lawyer may want to go and do some further research before advising you on the law and your options.

By the end of the meeting, you should know:

• If your lawyer needs any further information from you,
• What your lawyer will do next (if anything),
• What you should do next (if anything), and
• How much you can expect to spend in legal fees.

In our experience, most clients find the initial consultation a reassuring process.

If you have a legal issue you would like some initial advice on, please feel free to call us for a confidential conversation.