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Most people would rather not have to consult a lawyer for one reason or another. After all, if you are consulting with one, chances are that you feel that you either have wronged someone else, or that you have been wronged yourself. You are nervous already, and you want your meeting with your lawyer to go well. Here are some items to consider before you have an initial consultation.
Prior to your visit, be sure to organize any records or materials you have regarding your case. Both your time and your lawyer's time are very valuable, and your lawyer may be charging you for his or her time at this initial meeting. Thus, needlessly sifting through paperwork is a bad use of time. Be able to find what your lawyer asks for immediately. Have all relevant phone numbers, names, and lists at the ready. To assist you, you may even jot down a brief summary of your case and your contentions.
Be sure to arrive on time for your scheduled appointment. Most initial consultations are scheduled for one hour, and if you show up fifteen minutes late, that is fifteen minutes less that you have to discuss your case. Your lawyer likely has other clients to see, and he or she cannot keep everyone waiting due to your tardiness. Once you arrive in the office and sit down with your lawyer, begin discussing the facts of your case right away.
Be professional and frank with your attorney. Even though they are trained professionals, lawyers cannot help you unless you disclose all the pertinent facts of your case. Even if such facts are harmful to your cause, let the lawyer know them. Should he or she find out about the disadvantageous information two months down the road, it may be too late to do anything. Whatever you tell your lawyer, with certain exceptions, is protected by the attorney-client privilege and cannot be disclosed without your consent. Since everything is in confidence, it is to your advantage to be open and honest. Ask questions if you are unsure of something.
It is also to your advantage to "let your lawyer be the lawyer." Too many people have a Hollywood influenced version of the law which often does not hold true in the real world. Tell your lawyer the facts, and then let he or she present your options to you. When your lawyer feels it is appropriate for your to make a choice, they will let you know. Such decisions will, in the course of a case, include whether or not to accept a settlement, and in a criminal case, whether or nor to testify.
Listen to your lawyer's directions, especially concerning courtroom and deposition testimony. Having likely been in a courtroom many times before, your lawyer will probably have advice for you on how to dress and how to answer certain questions. He or she is not trying to put words in your mouth. They only want to bring our your case's strong points as much as possible.
In the unlikely event that your lawyer's performance falls below the standard of competencey, you are not left without a possible remedy. You cannot sue a lawyer for legal malpractice simply because your case did not turn out with a verdict in your favor. However, each case is unique, and if you feel that your attorney has not acted in a competent manner, you may consult another lawyer to see if you have a case. Additionally, in most states, your lawyer is obligated to inform you if he or she believes they have committed legal malpractice.
Keeping these ideas in mind will assist you in making your initial visit to your lawyer productive and smooth. Your lawyer wants to help you, but they can only help you as much as you want to be helped.
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