Five tips for meeting with your attorney

My legal assistant and I recently discussed what questions clients and prospective clients ask her about meeting with me and other attorneys here. As a result of our conversation, we came up with the following tips for clients when meeting with their attorneys. 

Write down questions and concerns beforehand.

What do you want to accomplish through your attorney? It would be best to have a basic idea of what outcome you are hoping for. This helps me, as an attorney, to know what objectives I’m working towards and tailor my representation to achieve your goals. As an attorney, I’m here to help you BUT you, as the client, are my customer and I seek to achieve your objectives. 

Try to relax

Easier said than done, right? I understand whatever situation you may be in can be very stressful and upsetting. However, being able to speak clearly and calmly dramatically helps us to understand the facts of your case. Family law and criminal defense are possibly the two most emotional areas of the law, and I completely understand the stress and emotions one may experience. In my 20+ years practicing law, I’ve seen clients cry in my office and get upset, and it’s perfectly fine.     

Make sure you tell me EVERYTHING relevant to your case, even if it makes you look bad.

As an attorney, I have to know EVERYTHING to represent a client the best I can. A crucial part of the attorney-client relationship is honesty between the parties. If you leave information out when discussing your case, especially if it’s on purpose, then it could come out in the courtroom before the judge or jury. You do not want this to happen. This can make the attorney and the client look bad and lose credibility. When you tell me information, even bad information, there are various ways I can attempt to exclude or minimize this information.  

Bring a notebook

The legal process has many steps. It’s easy to get confused when discussing your case and the steps that must be taken. Taking notes helps you keep track of those steps and write down any additional information I may need from you for you to provide later. 

Bring any prior paperwork you may have to our meeting.

You should bring all pertinent paperwork about your case if it’s ongoing. The legal system operates on deadlines and dates. As an attorney, I need to see what has been filed with the court to know what may have already occurred and what needs to be done. 

I know the legal process can be scary and overwhelming. However, hiring an attorney to help guide you through the process can make it much easier. Having someone on your side and fighting for YOU is always comforting. Following these suggestions above, you can have a more productive meeting with your attorney. 

Contact Angel at (615) 784-4800 to schedule a consultation regarding your case.