If you’re meeting with a lawyer for the first time, you might be feeling nervous, but you shouldn’t! Lawyers do what they do because they want to help people in your situation — be it anything from a family law matter like divorce, to an employment law matter like wrongful termination, to a criminal law matter like a drug possession charge. Your first meeting with a lawyer is your chance not only to get to know them and determine if they’re the right fit for your case, but also to help them to help you. One of the most important ways you can do this is by bringing in the needed documentation. Read on to learn about a few of the documents you should consider taking to your first meeting with a lawyer.
If you already have court documents because parts of your case have already unfolded, you should absolutely have them with you when meeting with your lawyer. These can help your lawyer understand what exactly is going on, where you stand legally, and what needs to happen next.
These are important for family law matters like divorce and child custody.
Bring in anything you have that might be considered evidence in your case. You have proof that your spouse cheated and that’s why you want a divorce? Bring the documentation. You’ve been accused of a robbery, but you have photos of yourself at the bowling alley at the time the crime was committed? Bring the documentation. You were injured in a car accident and want to sue the other driver for negligence? Bring the documentation — police report, photos from the accident scene, all of it! When it comes to these kinds of things, the more documentation you can provide, the better. Your lawyer will be able to determine what is useful and what isn’t.
Don’t risk finding yourself in the annoying situation of realizing on the drive home that you forgot to ask an important question. You may be nervous or excited during your consultation, so prepare questions to ask in advance.
Still looking for a lawyer? Check out the Knoxville Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service to be matched with a lawyer who has experience with your type of legal problem. We wish you the best of luck!
If you’re looking for a lawyer and just don’t know where to start, the Knoxville Bar Association’s LRIS is a great place to begin. We match you with a lawyer that suits your needs. Our trusted attorneys provide you with a free consultation so that you can decide if it’s the right fit. Want to learn more? Call us at (865) 522-7501 or visit knoxbar.org/lawyerfinder.
The materials contained in this blog are intended to, and do, provide only a broad overview of various legal topics. The general information contained in this material is not designed nor intended to be a substitute for legal advice on a specific legal issue or question. In addition, the information provided in this material is only general advice and may not be applicable to apparent similar individual problems, since only slight changes in facts change the applicable advice. If you have a legal problem or question, please consult an attorney.
Any publication, distribution, or other use of these materials without the express written consent of the Knoxville Bar Association is prohibited.
