Bring a short chronology, the key documents, names of all parties, information about deadlines or active proceedings, your main questions and a realistic description of the result you want. Do not try to bring every document without organization; identify the core record first.
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1. Write a one-page chronology.
List the key events in date order. Include when agreements were signed, payments were due, wills were made, deaths occurred, notices were received, meetings happened and court documents were served.
A chronology helps the lawyer understand sequence before diving into details. It can also reveal missing periods, inconsistent dates or deadlines that require immediate attention.
2. Collect the core documents.
For a contract dispute, bring the agreement, amendments, invoices, notices and material correspondence. For an estate matter, bring the will, any court certificate, relevant powers of attorney, estate records and correspondence about the dispute.
If there are hundreds of documents, do not print everything indiscriminately. Create a short index and identify the documents you believe are most important.
3. Identify every relevant person and organization.
Provide the full names of opposing parties, companies, family members, trustees, executors, beneficiaries and lawyers already involved. This information is needed for conflict checks and helps explain the relationships around the dispute.
If a corporation or estate is involved, note the correct legal name and role. Small naming errors can create confusion later.
4. Flag deadlines and urgent risks.
Bring every notice, court document or communication that contains a date. Tell the lawyer if money is being transferred, property may be sold, evidence may disappear or another party is demanding immediate action.
Do not assume a general limitation period is the only deadline that matters. Contracts, court rules and specialized statutes can create other time-sensitive steps.
5. Be candid about difficult facts.
A lawyer can only assess the matter presented. Facts that appear embarrassing or harmful may be precisely the facts that determine strategy. It is better for counsel to learn about them privately at the beginning than from the other side later.
Separate what you know from what you suspect. Identifying uncertainty makes the evidentiary plan more reliable.
6. Prepare questions about strategy and scope.
Ask what the lawyer sees as the central legal issue, what evidence is missing, what the first step should be, what alternatives to court may exist, who will handle the file and how fees are structured.
The goal of the first meeting is not to solve every issue. It is to leave with a clearer map of the problem and an informed decision about what should happen next.
A simple consultation pack.
Bring: a one-page chronology; a list of parties; the five to ten most important documents; active court materials; a list of deadlines; a short statement of your desired outcome; and your questions.
For Mullowney’s Law, this preparation helps keep the consultation focused on estate litigation, contract disputes, probate and related civil litigation issues rather than spending the meeting reconstructing basic facts.
What not to do before the meeting.
Do not edit or delete unfavorable messages, send an angry demand simply because a consultation is booked, or contact represented parties in a way that may complicate the dispute. Preserve the record as it exists.
Also avoid spending hours creating a lengthy narrative when a concise chronology and organized documents will communicate more efficiently.
After the consultation: capture the decision.
Write down the immediate next step, the information still required, any deadline identified, who is responsible for each task and whether a retainer will be offered. If you are comparing lawyers, make those notes before the meetings blur together.
If you decide not to retain the lawyer, do not assume the firm is monitoring your deadlines. Responsibility remains with you unless a lawyer has expressly accepted the retainer.
Questions about choosing counsel.
What should I bring to a lawyer consultation?+
Bring the core agreement, will or court materials, a chronology, key communications, names of all parties, known deadlines and a list of questions.
Should I send documents before the consultation?+
Follow the firm’s instructions. If documents are requested in advance, send an organized core set rather than an unlabelled mass of files.
Should I tell the lawyer facts that hurt my case?+
Yes. A confidential consultation is most useful when the lawyer knows the material facts, including facts that may weaken your position.
What questions should I ask about fees?+
Ask how fees are calculated, what the current scope includes, what disbursements may arise, when estimates are revisited and who authorizes additional work.
Can the lawyer give a final opinion in the first meeting?+
Sometimes an initial view is possible, but a reliable opinion may require review of documents, law and the other side’s position.