How To Have A Great Meeting With A Lawyer

 1.  Schedule an Appointment

Although some attorneys may allow walk-in appointments, most attorneys will be too busy to work you into their schedule.  Even if an attorney can see you immediately, neither you nor the attorney will be prepared for the meeting.  Schedule your appointment in advance.

2.  Prepare a List of Questions

Before your appointment, write down a list of questions you have regarding your immigration situation.  Take your list to the meeting with your attorney - or even better, email it to your attorney in advance of the meeting. Before your appointment, write down a list of questions you have regarding your immigration situation.

3.  Gather Your Case Documents and Bring Them to the Meeting

If this is your first immigration case, you may not have many documents to gather.  However, if you are asking your attorney to review a case that has already been filed, you should copy all of your case documents and bring them to your meeting.  Other documents that your immigration attorney will want to review include:  marriage certificates if your case is based on marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, any criminal records for you or the person you are sponsoring, and your Notice to Appear if you have been placed in removal proceedings.

4.  Arrive on Time

This one is very important for you.  My office does not keep people waiting for their appointment.  If you are twenty minuets late for a thirty minuet appointment, we will not have much time to go over your case.  Confirm your attorney's address and driving directions before the day of your appointment.  Leave early.  If you are late, your appointment may be rushed, and you may not have enough time to discuss all of your questions with your attorney.   We provide an email confirmation for every appointment along with detailed driving directions.

5. Ask Your Questions

You wrote your questions down, they are important to you ask them.  Even if the attorney covered your legal issue, ask your question to put the answer in your notes.

6.  Take Notes

What is crystal clear in the lawyers office can become fuzzy a short while later.  If you write it down it will be easier to remember.

7.  Tell The Truth

Your meeting is protected by attorney client privilege, even if you do not hire the attorney.  To be able to give good advice the attorney needs the truth.

8.  Confirm Your Notes

You have written your notes and the answers to your questions, confirm with the attorney that is what the attorney said and that you have the information clearly.

9.  Know What Is Next

What are the next steps if you hire the attorney, what do you have to do, what does the attorney need to do and when.

10.  Follow Up

Now that you have the information it is time to put that information into good use.  If you are using an attorney follow up to make sure that the attorney has what is needed.