The task can be particularly daunting if you have never been involved in legal proceedings before and/or if you do not know any lawyers. Where do you start, what do you say?
Here are some tips for your initial meeting with a lawyer (whom you may consider retaining to represent you):
1. Bring with you whatever paperwork you think may be relevant to the legal issues in which you are involved. If you are not sure whether a particular document is relevant, have it with you just in case - the lawyer can then ask for it if necessary. The documents you bring should include your last three income tax returns (complete with slips and attachments), as well as related Notices of Assessment and Re-Assessment;
2. Start by providing a general outline of your story and then give the lawyer an opportunity to ask you questions to flesh out or clarify the areas which need further discussion. Stick to the issues at hand - remember, you are potentially retaining this person to assist you with legal issues, not to be your counsellor. While it is important that your lawyer appreciate the emotional component of your case and what you are feeling, his or her job is not to provide you with psychological and emotional support - spend your money wisely...the more hand-holding you require, the more expensive the process will be. This is not meant to say that you are to be an unemotional blank slate at any of your meetings with your lawyer. This is often simply impossible as the issues are highly emotionally charged and you are in the middle of them. The point is to stick to what is relevant and to points with which the lawyer can help you, based on their actual expertise.
3. Be honest - the information which you provide to your lawyer should include "the good and the bad" - do not conceal the existence of unfavourable information/evidence from your lawyer simply because you think this will help them do their job - this tactic can have very serious and damaging concequences to your case down the road.
4. Assess whether you and your lawyer will get along and whether the potential relationship will be "a fit" - this is an important point missed by many out there - a relationship between lawyer and client can be very intense and you have to be basically compatible, communicate in an effective way and simply "get along" to make your case move forward to a resolution.
5. Do not be afraid to ask questions - legal issues often are (through years of convention) but are not meant to be shrouded in a veil of mystery - the better you understand the issues in your case, the more useful assistance you will be able to provide to your lawyer - remember, they work for you and not give versa.
Good luck!
Image via Zamm(flickr)
