Hiring an Attorney: About the Initial Consultation

If you are thinking about hiring an attorney, you've probably seen the phrase, "Free Initial Consultation" a time or two. Most lawyers offer these as a way to bring clients in the door. But you may be wondering what such a meeting is all about. Obviously, the exact nature and tone of the meeting will depend on exactly what your situation and case is all about. A consultation with a criminal lawyer may differ from one with a bankruptcy lawyer. Clearly, the specifics will be different. But much of the meeting will be the same, regardless of the specifics. Here are some things to expect.

Testing the Waters

There are two primary purposes of an initial consultation. The first of these, of course, is to talk about your case. The attorney will be listening, all the while deciding if this is a case he wants to take on. But the case is only a part of the purpose. The other part is getting to know one another. An initial consultation isn't about making a new friend, but personality matters in a working relationship. If a doctor treated you rudely, you might consider going elsewhere, even if he had a reputation as one of the best in the field. The same goes for a lawyer. You may make much bigger strides with a lawyer you can work well with, rather than someone with a great reputation but terrible interpersonal communication skills.

Qualifications

While the attorney is sizing up your case, you will simultaneously be sizing him up. Find out what kinds of qualifications he brings to the table. This interview is as much for you as it is for him, so don't go into the meeting with the idea that you have to "sell" him on the case. If he wants it, he wants it. If he doesn't, there are doubtlessly a hundred other lawyers in town. And it's for that very reason that you don't need to settle. Make sure the lawyer you hire has the experience and knowledge it takes to handle a case like yours.

Case Specifics

Even if you start getting the idea that this particular attorney isn't going to take your case, try to find out why that is. Get to know the strong and weak points of your case. There are some cases that really aren't worth pursuing, and an initial consultation is a good way to find that out without spending any money. While there's nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, you shouldn't dismiss his thoughts out of hand.