What to Expect From An Attorney
As Abraham Lincoln once said, A lawyer's time and advice is his stock in trade...
When consulting an attorney, please recognize that the attorney will need to charge for his or her time. At our practice, we try to maintain a friendly, cordial atmosphere, but as any lawyer would, we must charge for the time and advice we give in addition to the prepartion of documents.
Therefore, when consulting a lawyer, it is a good idea to have in mind the issues or questions you wish to address beforehand. Taking a few moments before your consultation to consider your legal matters or read over any documents you need advice about will not only help to ensure that your consultation will be productive, but may also help you develop a better understanding of what you want to do about your legal matters. It can also sometimes be helpful to write out any questions you may have in advance to ensure that they are answered during your consultation.
Louisville native and influencial attorney. Appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1916 by Woodrow Wilson.
If you are preparing for your initial consultation on a new matter, it may be helpful to call ahead and ask the secretary if you need to bring any documents to your consultation. If you have documents that need to be reviewed, bring those with you to the meeting. If the documents are lengthy, you might send a copy in advance to the attorney for review prior to your meeting.
Do not hesitate to ask any questions about anything you do not understand. It is our job to help you to understand and to make decisions about legal matters that you are involved in. Consultations are not only a chance for us to determine the legalities of your matter, but also for you to get a better idea of what you wish to do about them. While we will give advice about and carry out the decisions you make, all decisions in your legal matters ultimately rest in your hands. When you finish your consultation, you should hopefully have an understanding of the legal issues and what action needs to be taken.
Also, do not hestitate to inquire about the fee or a fee estimate. Regardless of what sort of professional you are dealing with, most will be more than happy to explain how their billing works.