INITIAL MEETING OF LAWYER AND

CLIENT
 WHAT ARE "FEES" AND "COSTS"?
L E G A L F E E S A R E F O R Y O U R L AW Y E R ’ S A D V I C E A N D S E R V I C E S . C O S T S A R E
O T H E R E X P E N S E S , L I K E F I L I N G F E E S F R O M T H E C O U RT, C O P Y I N G C O S T S , O R
E X P E R T W I T N E S S F E E S . U S U A L LY Y O U M U S T PAY A L L C O S T S W H E N T H E Y
H A P P E N . T H E Y C A N A L S O B E A D D E D T O Y O U R R E G U L A R B I L L , I F T H AT I S T H E
P A Y M E N T A R R A N G E M E N T Y O U H AV E W I T H Y O U R L AW Y E R . B U T I F Y O U R C A S E
H A S B E E N A C C E P T E D O N A “ C O N T I N G E N C Y B A S I S ” , Y O U R L AW Y E R M A Y L E T
YOU REIMBURSE COSTS OUT OF ANY SETTLEMENT OR JUDGMENT YOU GET IF
Y O U W I N T H E C A S E . S E E T H E “ C O N T I N G E N T F E E ” D E S C R I P T I O N B E L O W.
W H AT I S A F E E P AY M E N T S C H E D U L E ?

A F E E P AY M E N T S C H E D U L E I S A M O N T H LY P AY M E N T P L A N T H AT L E T S Y O U P AY
A C E R T A I N A M O U N T E V E R Y M O N T H . M A N Y L AW Y E R S W I L L A G R E E T O A F E E
P A Y M E N T S C H E D U L E A F T E R T H E Y H AV E B E E N P A I D T H E A D VA N C E F E E
D E P O S I T. U S U A L LY, I N T E R E S T W I L L B E C H A R G E D O N T H E A M O U N T O W E D . I F
Y O U H AV E N O T A R R A N G E D A P A Y M E N T P L A N , Y O U M A Y H AV E T O P A Y T H E F U L L
AMOUNT YOU OWE EACH MONTH.
 INITIAL CONSULTATION

Your first meeting with a lawyer is called an “initial consultation.” During this meeting, the lawyer will
decide whether she wants to take your case, and you will decide whether you want to hire this lawyer.

How Should I Prepare for the Initial Consultation?

It is helpful to have a list of questions written out and space to write notes. This will help you
remember the lawyer’s answers and your thoughts. Your notes will be helpful if you are comparing
lawyers. Bring documents related to your case.

What Should I Talk About During the Initial Consultation?

Explain your legal problem – share all the facts, both good and bad, about your situation. Tell the
lawyer what you want to happen with your case. This information is important for the lawyer to know.
Note: Initial consultations are confidential. Meaning everything said and written between you and the
lawyer at this meeting cannot be shared without your permission.
WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD I ASK THE LAWYER?
• How long will it take to complete
the case?
• How will the lawyer’s fees be
calculated?
• What role do I have as a client in
making decisions about the case?
• How will you tell me about plans
and problems as the case goes
along?
• Will you answer all of my questions
even when they seem unimportant
or difficult?
• What is your experience with cases
like this?
• Do you have the time to work on
my case?
•
 What Information Will Lawyer Need?
Название слайда
1. Tell the lawyer immediately about:
2. Any history of domestic violence 29
3. Your safety concerns and current living situation
4. Any orders that are in place (Protection Order, No
Contact Order, etc.)
5. Drug/alcohol abuse by your partner and/or you
6. Any sexual abuse
7. Any child abuse
8. If Child Protective Services (CPS) is involved with
your family
9. If there are criminal charges pending or criminal
convictions
10. If the abuser has access to weapons
1. Information about financial needs (monthly expenses)
2. List of liabilities (things you owe – debts, loans, credit card
bills, etc. Include creditor names)
3. Proof of spouse’s salary (copy of a paycheck, tax return, or
financial statement for a bank loan or credit card
application)
4. Information about your own salary
5. Name of bank branches used and all account numbers
6. List of your and your spouse’s employment benefits
7. If your spouse is working “under the table,” document how
much the hourly wage is, how often work is done (hours,
days per month) and the name of the person paying for the
work
Here are examples of other kinds of information to prepare:
8. Birth date and Social Security numbers for all family
members
9. Short chronological summary of abuse
10. Police reports
11. Medical reports
12. Protection Order or No Contact paperwork
13. List of witnesses to any abuse, including names, addresses,
and phone numbers
14. Copies of anything that has been previously filed, including
separation or prenuptial agreements, or dissolution or
parenting plan documents
 Thank you
Название слайда 29 for attention!!!