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Whether you’re meeting with divorce lawyers, an estate planning attorney or a criminal attorney, being unprepared for your first meeting can cost you time and money. The Michael A. Newland Law Office in Hamilton, OH handles all aspects of criminal defense, as well as divorce and juvenile law. His office knows that having your first meeting with a lawyer can feel daunting, and while you may not know the exact things you need to do yet, getting the most information about your case to your attorney will save you considerable expenses in the long run.

Most law offices will have a questionnaire that covers your name and address. However, some offices will also send you questionnaires in advance to cover the basics of your visit. Fill these out as soon as possible, and if you’re worried about filling it out incorrectly, call their office and make sure all the details are accurate.

Every lawyer wants to know your story: namely, the story of how and why you needed to come into their office in the first place. While your version of the events should unfold just like a regular story, you want to outline your story chronologically, and present the following in great detail: 

  • the names of people involved
  • key facts
  • the nature of the dispute 
  • important dates 

Before going into the meeting, write this story down and get the exact dates right. You should know exactly when things occurred—mark them on your calendar—and share these dates with your lawyer. Include in the conversation exactly where you and the other parties were located during the dispute.

Once you've outlined your story, gather all the paperwork that fills in the story’s details. Bring in any papers, contracts, letters and print out e-mails that were communicated. If you had any relevant phone conversations, again, write down the exact times and dates, and give them to your lawyer. Bring in any police reports, employee handbooks or bank records. You can even make a list of possible witnesses.

Finally, prepare your own questions. During your first meeting, your lawyer is likely to listen most of the time, and then ask you follow-up questions. So it's best to bring a list of your own questions, which might include: 

  • What should you do to avoid aggravating your situation? 
  • Has your lawyer dealt with these types of cases before? 
  • What are your options for legal remedies? 
  • What are the obstacles to your successfully bringing the case? 

The Michael A. Newland Law Office is ready to help your case with his experience in divorce, traffic  and will preparation.  Call the office at (513) 887-9595 or visit them online for more details about the practice.

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