Everyone has been to the doctor and the dentist, and knows what to expect when visiting those offices. However, for many people, their first time coming to Plakas Mannos is the very first time they have ever needed a lawyer. If this is your first experience with needing a lawyer, read on. This blog will discuss what to expect meeting a lawyer for the first time, what questions you should ask, and how you can prepare in advance to make the meeting as productive as possible.
There are a number of purposes of having an initial meeting or phone call. These purposes include:
Depending on the nature and complexity of the case, the initial client meeting can be very brief or as long as a couple hours. Also depending on the nature of the case, a fee agreement may be presented and signed at the initial client meeting or soon thereafter.
At a minimum, the client and lawyer will be present at the initial client meeting. Oftentimes, and depending on the nature of the dispute and size of the case, there may be multiple lawyers, a paralegal, or other law firm personnel at the initial meeting. Additionally, and especially for business cases, there may be other employees or company representatives who attend the new client meeting. Finally, where another attorney has referred the case to our firm to co-counsel, the referring attorney may also be present at the initial client meeting.
The new client meeting oftentimes is your first opportunity to ask the lawyer any questions you may have about your case. Questions you may want to ask include:
Because the initial client meeting is more of a discussion than an interview, don’t worry too much about remembering and asking every single one of your questions at this initial meeting. Our team will be available to answer your questions throughout the case.
While advance preparation is not always necessary, in cases with any level of complexity, it can be helpful in ensuring that the meeting is as productive and efficient as possible. There are three primary forms of advance preparation that can be helpful.
Plakas Mannos’s staff will email you detailed parking and building entry instructions in advance of your initial meeting. We have covered garage parking with skywalks attached to both our Akron and Canton offices, so you don’t need to worry if the weather is less than ideal. We will of course validate your parking.
During or shortly after the new client meeting, you will need to decide whether to retain the lawyer. Once retained, the lawyer will be able to start working on your case, and you will be able to work together towards achieving the goals discussed at the initial client meeting.
If you’re nervous about meeting with a lawyer, hopefully, these tips can help. In fact, did you know that Plakas Mannos’s attorneys participate in initial client meetings with new clients every day? If you have a possible case or a legal issue that we can assist with, do not hesitate to contact us today.