If you've never met a Family Lawyer in Melbourne before, it can be overwhelming. The lawyer's job is to help you make sense of your legal situation, but it's also your job to prepare for the meeting so that you'll get the most out of it.
Here are a few tips for making sure your first meeting with a lawyer goes well:
Gather All Relevant Documents
When you're meeting with a lawyer, it's important to have all the relevant documents ready. You might not think of this as an issue--but if there's something missing from your file, it could slow down your case and cost both of you time and money in the long run.
Make sure that any letters or emails between yourself and another party are included in the file; if the information was discussed over phone calls or text messages (and not via email), those should be included as well too!
If someone else is helping prepare your documents for court or arbitration hearings, make sure that person knows exactly what type of information needs to go into each document before sending them off for printing out on behalf of yourself as plaintiff/defendant, etc.
Write Down Your Questions
Before you go to the meeting, write down a list of questions to ask the lawyer. You may be nervous or unsure about what to say, but having a list will help you remember all the things that are important to you and your case. Your questions should include:
- What is their experience in handling cases like yours?
- How much do they charge for services? Do they charge by the hour or by a project? Or do they have flat rates for certain types of work (such as drafting contracts)?
- How long will it take them to complete my case? Can they give me an estimate based on previous cases like mine?
Provide a Clear Summary of Your Situation
When you meet with a Family Lawyer, they will want to know everything that has happened. They need to know what you're looking for and why, as well as the problem itself.
They also need an understanding of how this issue came about, any legal action taken so far (if any), and what your next steps are going forward. This information should be provided in a clear summary form that can be easily referenced later on if necessary.
Be Honest and Transparent
Be honest, transparent, and open with your lawyer. It's important that they know exactly what you want from them and how much you're willing to pay for their services.
They need to know whether or not you have been happy with other lawyers in the past, as well as why or why not. The more information they have about your situation, the easier it will be for them to provide an accurate estimate of costs and timeframes for any potential cases that come up during their representation of you.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you a better idea of how to prepare for a meeting with a Family Lawyer. Remember that it's important, to be honest, and transparent, as well as prepared with all the relevant documents at hand.
If possible, try to do some research beforehand so that when the time comes there won't be any surprises waiting for either party!
