Prepare for a first meeting with a lawyer
For people preparing for an initial conversation with a lawyer.
What should I bring if I have a pile of papers and only a short time to tell my story?
Start with the outcome you want, the next date shown on any notice and a short list of people involved. Bring the papers that show those dates and events. Ask the office how to share them and keep your own copies.
Write a timeline you can explain
Use one line per event. Give the date, what happened, how you know and the name of the supporting paper or message. If you only remember “early May,” write that. Include facts that seem unfavorable or confusing so the lawyer can assess them. List anyone else who saw the event.
Put a hearing notice, demand or other dated communication at the top of the packet. Keep the envelope or message showing how and when it arrived. Tell the office promptly about upcoming dates, even if the meeting is scheduled later. Let the lawyer assess what deadline, if any, applies.
Make the documents easy to find
Bring a short index that identifies each document, its author and its date. Preserve original messages, attachments and complete agreements with any amendments. A screenshot or highlighted excerpt may help explain a point, but the lawyer may need the surrounding material. Ask what to send in advance, where to send it and what to bring to the meeting.
Write down your preferred outcome and one acceptable alternative. Think about practical constraints, such as being unavailable for a hearing, needing an interpreter or having difficulty opening digital files. Those details can affect what makes a next step workable.
Leave with an agreed next step
Ask who will handle the work, what it would cost, what the proposed engagement covers and how you should communicate. Find out whether the lawyer has agreed to act, when that would begin and who is responsible for any upcoming date. Write down what each person agreed to do and when to check back. A booked meeting by itself does not tell you who is handling a deadline.
Worked example
Illustrative first page. “I want the repair completed before the first heavy rain. I received a dated letter on Tuesday and brought the envelope. I recall the installer coming in early May but cannot place the exact day. The invoice gives a billing date. I want to know what needs attention now and what it would cost for you to help.” This gives the lawyer a goal, a source and a clear uncertainty to investigate.
Primary sources
Related work at Agentic Attorney
This first-meeting worksheet is part of the shared Agentic Attorney resource collection. Its main site describes AI consulting and implementation for legal teams. Explore Agentic Attorney’s approach to AI implementation.