General preparation information. A professional relationship begins only under the terms agreed with the lawyer or firm.
A productive legal consultation starts with goals, people, assets, documents, urgent deadlines, and the questions the client wants resolved.
Build the meeting agenda
- The first meeting is also a fit check for scope, communication, credentials, conflicts, fees, and next steps.
- Consultation concerns include guaranteed outcomes, pressure to sign, unclear attorney identity, unexplained scope, refusal to provide a written fee agreement, or advice outside the lawyer's licensed jurisdiction.
Bring evidence, not just recollections
- one-page family and goal summary
- current documents, asset list, ownership, beneficiary, and deadline records
- advertising claim, proposal, engagement terms, and written communication
Scope, cost, and next steps
- What work does the lawyer recommend and what alternatives exist?
- Who will do the work, how will updates be communicated, and what will it cost?
- Can the lawyer explain the recommendation, alternatives, limits, and total expected work in plain language?
Risks to pause on
- Sending originals or highly sensitive records before the firm confirms a secure process and conflict check is unnecessary.
- A promise of a certain tax, Medicaid, court, or asset-protection result should be treated as a reason for independent verification.