6 Things You Should Know Before a Free Consultation

Image of attorney and client in an initial consultation

If you’re being charged with a crime and you’re looking for an attorney, your first meeting with the attorney will be at a consultation. You will probably have a lot of questions, concerns, and fears. The purpose of the consultation is for the attorney to listen to your legal problems, discuss those problems with you, and let you know if and how he may be able to help you. This is also the time for you to decide if this is the person you want helping you with your legal problem. Here are 6 things you should know before going to a consultation.

1. I Can’t Solve Your Problem Today

Criminal cases are complex. At the the initial consultation, I’m only going to be able to get your side of the story. I won’t have the police report, any video, any witness statements, any lab results, or any of the other things that I will receive when I’m working on your case. I will also not have done any of the investigation that I would do while representing someone. I wish that I could sit down with you, listen to your problems, and solve them within an hour, but it’s not that simple.

2. I Can Still Help You Out

Even though I can’t solve your legal problem in one meeting, I can help you out. I can let you know what to expect during the case and at your first court appearance. I can usually let you know when or where your first court appearance is scheduled. I can let you know if there’s a chance I can get that reset once you decide to hire me (I can’t take any action on your behalf until you hire me). I can let you know if there’s anything that you should be doing right now that will help your case out and let you know what you should definitely not be doing. I can also let you know a range of how long your case may last. If you have any other general questions, I can usually answer those for you too.

3. Questions You Should Ask

You should ask if there’s anything you should be doing before your first court date. You should ask what is going to happen at your first court date. If you want to hire the attorney, you should be clear on what is necessary before the attorney starts representing you. You should ask if there are any deadlines that are coming up that you need to be aware of. You should know how often to expect to hear from them and how to get in touch with him if you need him. You should understand all of the terms of any contracts that you sign and if there are any expenses or additional fees that you may be responsible for. If there’s anything you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask about it.

4. Take Your Significant Other or Friend

Deciding which attorney to hire is a big decision and there will probably be a lot of information at the initial consultation. Having a spouse or friend with you can be very helpful. They may think of questions that you want to know the answer to. They may also be let you know how they feel about the attorney to help you decide if that attorney is right for you. Lastly, it’s always better to have someone to be supportive of you. Everything about being charged with a criminal offense is stressful. Having friends along the way helps.

5. Be Ready To Make A Decision Soon

After the consultation, you may not be sure if this is the right person to represent you or you may have set up multiple consultations and that’s OK. This is a big decision and you don’t want to be pressured into making that decision. Don’t let that indecision negatively impact you though. Even if you haven’t hired an attorney yet, the district attorney’s office is working to get a conviction in your case. They may already be reaching out to witnesses and developing their case. You need someone working for you to get the best resolution for you.

6. Bring a Payment Method

Even if the consultation is free, you may want to hire the attorney to represent you and you should expect the attorney to charge you at least a partial fee before they start working on your case. Even if you don’t think you’ll have enough to pay for the fee in full, know how much you can pay that day and see if you and the attorney can work out an agreement for any amount left over.

If you’re being charged with a crime click the link below or call us at 210-900-2806 to set up a FREE consultation.

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Sean Henricksen Law Firm

At the Henricksen Law Firm, we are committed to helping good people who have been charged with criminal offenses. Your situation is unique, and before we develop a strategy, we will hear your individual concerns. Then we work toward the result that solves all of your problems—both now and in the future.

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