Often the only experience many people have with the legal profession is the litany of television shows available such as Law & Order, Suits, or the Practice. Normally, this cursory knowledge of the law profession is fine, until the circumstances or events in their lives require the hiring of a lawyer.
This limited exposure to legal jargon and procedures typically means that clients need assistance in how to best prepare for meetings and work with a law team to meet the goals they desire. Here are 5 suggestions on how to best prepare yourself for a meeting with your lawyer or legal team.


Prepare Paperwork
Once you have set up an initial appointment with a lawyer, it is time to get yourself organized. This includes reviewing the details of the events in question and gathering all the documents that you may need for your case.
Documents may be in the form of emails, texts, letters, photographs, videos, audio files, written statements, bills, or any number of materials and papers that are related to your case. Your lawyer will want to personally review all original documents to determine how they support your case.
Take the time prior to your meeting to organize these files so that they are easy to understand and so that your legal team will hit the ground running to prove your case.
Be Open & Honest
Truths can be difficult to share and sometimes challenging to tell a lawyer. Remember that your lawyer is there for you and is on your team. Your conversations are confidential and without your permission, your lawyer cannot share confidential information.
The more details your lawyer knows and understands, the better the chance he/she can help win your case.


Create A List of Questions
It’s very natural to have many questions about the circumstances surrounding your legal matter. It’s a good idea to brainstorm a list of questions that your legal team can answer for you during your consultation.
Since attorneys typically charge by the hour, your organization of questions can help save time and money, and get your concerns addressed during your meeting.
Be Open To Advice
Your lawyer is an expert in their field and has countless hours dealing with similar situations. Their expertise may have them recommending options for a resolution that you may not have considered. Consider all the options that your attorney presents before making a decision on how to proceed with your legal matter.
Have a Goal in Mind
While you should be open to the varying options your lawyer recommends, you should also have a goal in mind. Often emotions can get in the way of determining what a final result of “justice” looks like to each client. Move beyond the anger or unfairness of the situation and clarify what your end goal is in your mind and with your attorney.
As you begin your legal proceedings, have these 5 tips in mind. They will help you get into the right mindset and make your consultations productive and efficient.