Lawyers are often willing to speak to you (either for free or for a fixed fee) before you ask them to carry out work for you. This might happen either in person or over the phone.
Before the meeting, make sure you:
- know whether the conversation will be free and if not, the price of the meeting; and
- find out how long the discussion will last for.
Questions to ask when you first meet with your lawyer
When you first meet with your lawyer, make sure you find out:
- what is going to happen
- what your lawyer is going to do for you; and
- what you will need to do
Ask questions and be open and honest about what you want to understand.
Below are some questions you might ask:
How many times can I meet with you face-to-face?
Who will do the work on my case?
How can I contact you?
Lawyers communicate with their clients in different ways. If several people will work on your case, ask for the name of the person you should contact.
How often will you update me on my case?
How many documents will I have to deal with?
What will I have to pay?
Do you have experience with my type of case?
Do I have a case?
What will happen and when?
Who will represent me in court, or at a tribunal?
What do these legal words and phrases mean?
What happens now?
