How to Prepare to Meet Your Solicitor
Last month we spoke about what you need to look out for when choosing the right solicitor to help you with your particular case.
But how can you come to the party when preparing to meet with a solicitor?
Consolidate the facts
Putting together a brief summary of all the facts will save a lot of time in this process as you will get a good idea on whether the solicitor will be able to assist you. This can include:
the people involved
main events and when they occurred
type of dispute
current status of the situation
You can also bring any previous communication between you and the other party/ies and/or their solicitor and relevant documents. This can be emails, letters, contracts, financial documents, police reports etc.
Be an open book
Although it may be embarrassing to lay it all out there, it is in everyone’s best interests for you to be 100% honest at all times when speaking to and supplying information to your solicitor. Any wrong or misleading information will cause confusion and prevent the solicitor from providing the right advice for you to be completely prepared for your case.
You can rest assured that the meeting and all information, whether written or oral, that is shared with your solicitor is confidential.
Meeting online or over the phone
If your meeting is over the phone or online, you can scan and email the previously mentioned information to the solicitor a day or two before the meeting. When on the call or virtual meeting, make sure you are in a place where you will not be interrupted. This way you won’t have to worry about being overheard and will be able to speak freely.
Make notes before the meeting
It can be easy to forget all those important questions and points when under stress or in an “interviewing” scenario. Best thing to do is to think of all the questions you want to ask and points you wish to bring up before the time and make a note of them to take with you to the meeting.
You might want to know the following:
What is the likelihood of your case succeeding?
How is the other party likely to respond?
How long will it take for the case to be completed?
Are there any time limits you need to be aware of?
What can you do to help your case?
What are the risks involved?
Are there any factors that affect your situation and any future legal case?
What is the cost?
What happens next?
Make notes during the meeting
Jot down any points while at the meeting. Better yet, bring someone with you to be the scribe so there’s less delay and you can concentrate on asking those questions.
Take a friend
On that note, taking a trusted friend or family member with you to listen in can be invaluable in this process. They can provide moral support, pick up things you might miss and it can be helpful to have someone to talk about the meeting with afterwards. Of course, be sure to inform the solicitor beforehand that you will be bringing someone with you, or that someone is listening in on the phone call or online meeting.
Take your ID documents
If you think you might decide at the first meeting to hire the solicitor, two forms of identity will be required. One must be a passport or driving license and the other should be a utility or council tax bill.
Ask “stupid” questions
At times there may be things you don’t understand, especially if there is some legal jargon thrown into the mix. It’s ok to ask as many questions as you need to – there is no such thing as a “stupid” question.
Ask for clarity
If you decide you want to go with the solicitor, make sure to get clear on whether there is any action required from you and what the next steps are. You can ask for this to be emailed so that it is clear that everyone is on the same page.
Listen to your gut
If, after doing all the above, you are not feeling 100% comfortable with the solicitor in question, it would be best to look for another one. It’s imperative that you have absolute confidence in the solicitor you choose to represent you.
We hope these tips help!