Family Law Consultations Expectations
Confidentiality
All meetings between our staff and clients, potential clients, and former clients are protected by the attorney-client privilege. That means that we will not disclose any information you provide during the course of the meeting without your express permission. Confidentiality extends to the entire staff, not just attorneys. You can expect that we will take notes while we talk, but your consultation will not be recorded in any other way and all notes will become a part of the client’s confidential file.
Can I Bring Someone With Me?
Sometimes a client will want to bring a friend or family member to the consultation. Bringing a support person can be tremendously helpful. Sometimes a third person is able to see things more clearly because they are not involved in the emotional turmoil of the situation. Or, maybe a friend will be better able to explain the situation and gauge whether the law firm is a good fit. Often, people are anxious about whether they will remember everything from the meeting and want a second set of ears so that they can talk it over later. Bringing a support person to the consultation is permitted as long as the client understands the effect on confidentiality. When you meet alone with a lawyer, you can be assured that nothing you say in the meeting will be disclosed. When you invite a third person into the room, you expose yourself to that person potentially revealing what you or the lawyer said during the meeting. Because of this risk, it is critical to choose your support person wisely. We suggest that you choose someone you know well and with whom you have a history of trust. We also suggest that you choose someone you consider wise, someone who is not embroiled in the emotional upheaval of your situation. You want someone who helps calm the waters and who can think clearly in stressful situations.
Preparing for Your Initial Consultation
The more you prepare for your consultation, the more information the attorney can provide during the meeting. Clients should gather relevant documentation, including financial records, previous court orders, and any correspondence related to the case. This preparation not only facilitates a more productive discussion but also allows the attorney to better understand the unique situation at hand. During the consultation, clients will have the opportunity to outline their goals and expectations, which helps the attorney tailor their legal representation accordingly.
Questions to Ask Your Attorney During the Consultation
Clients should come to the initial consultation equipped with questions that will help them gauge the attorney’s experience and approach to handling their family law case. Inquiries may include questions about the attorney’s familiarity with specific family law areas, their strategy for addressing your concerns, and the potential costs associated with legal representation. If your case involves sensitive topics that are difficult for you to talk about, you want to be sure that you feel comfortable with the attorney so that the relationship going forward will be open and honest. You should also ask questions about the attorney’s approach to practicing family law. For example, is the lawyer more collaborative or more litigious? Which fits better with your goals?
How Do I Know if the Lawyer Will Fight For Me?
Occasionally, at the end of a consultation a potential client will ask whether the lawyer thinks he or she can be “on my side.” This question is welcome, but we don’t think it really gets the answer that the client is looking for. When we hear these questions, what we also hear is “are you judging me?,” “do you believe me?,” and “can you tell my story?” Here are our suggestions for better questions: Now that I have told you what has happened, how would you explain it to a judge? Can you tell me about a time you represented someone in a similar situation? Can you tell me how you handle representation if you disagree with what your client wants? How about if you don’t like something your client did in the past? Any of these questions, depending on a client’s particular concern, will get a much more informative answer than “will you fight for me.”