The old adage about time and money still rings true, especially when it comes to legal consultations, where time is still the most valuable commodity. Rather than spending 40 minutes of the consultation looking for documentation, make the most of the time by coming in prepared.
The following tips will help you arrive prepared, stay focused, and get the most value out of the consultation.
Gone are the days of the shoebox full of receipts. Organize and digitize the necessary documents (contracts, police reports, any correspondence, etc.) and provide them in advance of your meeting. This gives us time to map out the facts of your case and come up with possible solutions, rather than spend your consultation time searching for information.
You are the only person who knows what happened to you. Provide a brief, one-page summary of your situation with a bulleted timeline of key dates.
Most importantly: don’t hide the “bad” facts. If there is a text message or a document that makes your position look weak, it’s better to have that information from the beginning so we can strategize and hopefully mitigate the potential downsides. Even though attorney-client privilege protects this conversation, it’s still better for us to know any details that make you appear negligible.
What is your actual goal? For some, it’s a specific dollar amount in a settlement. For others, it’s simply making a stressful situation go away as quietly as possible. For a business, it might be about protecting intellectual property at all costs.
Before the consult, ask yourself: “If I walk out of this case six months from now, what result would make me feel like this was a success?” Sharing this goal immediately helps us determine if it’s legally and financially viable.
A consultation is a two-way street. You aren’t just presenting a case; you are hiring a partner. Don’t be afraid to ask about our process. You should feel empowered to ask our methods, how we use technology to keep your billable hours down, and who your primary point of contact will be.
Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson & Griess’ legal expertise spans business, financial, and tax issues, as well as estate planning, intellectual property, and dispute resolution in order to ensure that our clients have the appropriate legal resources necessary to facilitate their success where they are.
The Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Act went into effect in January…
March 15 is the deadline for partnerships and S corporations to file their federal income…
Does your driveway cross through someone else’s property? Or do you have a verbal agreement…
Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson & Griess is proud to announce that four attorneys have been named…
Colorado has a rich history of cattle ranching dating back to the 1800s, when open…
As the end of the year approaches, it’s a good time to perform a quick…