Meeting with a lawyer for the first time can be intimidating, especially if you have not had any previous experiences working with an attorney. Untrue stereotypes about lawyers lead to unnecessary apprehension for people who need representation in injury cases.
If you are considering contacting a lawyer for a consultation, read our guide below to prepare.
A legal consultation is the initial meeting between a potential lawyer and client. These meetings allow the client to discuss their case with an attorney. Then, the attorney can give an overview of their recommended course of action.
These meetings are not a commitment. They give the client a chance to decide if they want to choose the lawyer as their representation. The lawyer also determines if they think they can represent the client.
Many law firms, like Eng & Woods, provide potential clients with a free initial consultation to review the circumstances of your case. There is no charge or commitment for this consultation. It is an opportunity for you to meet and discuss your case, allowing the attorney to determine if they can help and for both of you to decide if the fit is right.
Once you have set up a consultation with a lawyer, you need to make sure you have the right information and tools to make the most of your meeting.
Whenever you have an initial consultation, you are trying to give the lawyer a full picture of your situation. Walk them through your injury, how it occurred and where your injury status is now. Here are a few items that will make the conversation easier:
Detailed injury notes: Detailed notes will help the lawyer see how your injury occurred and what the cause was. A record of events is critical to building a successful case. In your notes, you should include:
Police or accident reports: Official reports are an excellent way to build credibility for your case.
Witness accounts: Witness accounts will help prove that negligence caused your injury and strengthen your case.
Photographs: Pictures increase the likelihood of success in your case.
Remember, whenever you discuss a case with a potential lawyer, you need to be honest with them about the situation. To represent you to the best of their ability, they need details about every angle of your injury case to address possible litigation complications.
During the initial consultation, the lawyer will have several questions about your case. You will also want to ask questions to ensure the relationship will work out for both sides.
What types of cases have you handled in the past?
How long have you practiced in the area?
What is their verdict record?
How aggressive are you in pursuing claims versus settling?
What are the legal fees?
What is your communication plan with clients?
Bring something for taking notes. Whether paper and pencil or your phone, be ready to write down any details you will need for the case moving forward.
After you have your initial consultation with potential representation, you will need to decide if the lawyer-client relationship is right for you and your case. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision:
Research prospective attorneys before the meeting, see what online reviews say about the law firm. Take a quick look at Google reviews or Lawyers.com to see how their other client’s experiences were.
If you have a friend or family member who worked with this law firm before and is willing to share their experience, talk with them to get their opinion.
Your final decision will come down to your experience in the consultation. Were the law team members genuine and friendly? Were they straightforward and realistic about how much they thought your claim was worth? Did they seem to be trustworthy? Whenever you choose your lawyer, you are trusting them to make decisions in your best interest.
If you have recently been injured due to someone else’s negligence on the job, in an auto accident or receiving medical treatment, contact Eng and Woods, Attorneys at Law, to set up a free consultation. We pride ourselves on excellent lawyer-client relationships, experienced legal practice and proven results.
For more information about personal injury cases, visit our blog.
John Carston
I like that you said that the right tools and information should be obtained after the consultation. A friend of mine informed me the other night that he was hoping to find a law firm that could help him seek compensation for his commercial property damage. I appreciate you for the information you gave, I’ll tell him that it will be much better if he consults a trusted civil attorney service as they can provide legal assistance.
Reagan
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Chang
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Liptak Jansen Law Firm
I appreciate the informative article and expertise. keep up the great work!
Lakesha
Appreciate the recommendation.
Steve Smith
It’s interesting when you said that you could properly discuss your current case legally by having a consultation with a lawyer. My best friend told me last night that his brother was asking how he could file a compensation claim as he was injured in their workplace with no fault on his own. He asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. Thanks to this informative article, I’ll tell him it will be much better if he consults a trusted worker’s compensation lawyer as they can help him with the proper compensation he deserves.
Loreen
Hi there! This post could not be written any better!
Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him.
Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!