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Initial Meeting

Once a potential client has made an appointment with an attorney, the client should prepare for the first meeting.

The client should gather together all documents and evidence relating to the case and bring them to the first meeting.

It may be helpful to both the client and the attorney if the client brings to the meeting a written, chronological account of the matter in dispute. And, it is sometimes also helpful if the background documents can be reviewed by the attorney in advance of the initial meeting.

A client may also compose a set of questions designed to help determine whether the attorney is right for the job. The following is a list of helpful questions that a person hiring an attorney may consider asking:

• How much experience has the attorney had in this sort of case?
• Will anybody help the attorney work on the case, and if so, who?
• How long will it take for the case to be resolved?
• If the client is not satisfied with a settlement offer, can she insist on going to court?
• How often will client and attorney communicate about the case?
• Can the client call and expect a reasonably prompt response?
• How can the client contact the attorney in case of an emergency?
• Who can the client talk to if the attorney is unavailable?
• How much will the case cost?
• What can the client do to help the case?