Treat your first meeting as a business consultation.
Let the lawyer do the talking initially.
You'll have all sorts of information that you'll want to relate, but the lawyer will be better able to hone in on the background facts that he or she feels are relevant or important. The more prepared you are with completed questionnaires, documents, diagrams and your own questions, the easier this process will be, and the more you will impress the lawyer.
Share all relevant information with the lawyer
Even if you don't end up hiring the lawyer, everything you tell him or her during your meeting is subject to the attorney-client privilege, so honesty is in your best interest. Let the lawyer decide what is or is not in your favor. It's much better for the lawyer to know the bad things up front, rather than be surprised later.
Find out the charges for services
You may be presented with a contract that is called a retainer agreement or a legal services agreement. The lawyer should explain it to you. Read and understand the document before you think about signing it. At that time, or before services are rendered, you may also be asked to provide a retainer or deposit up front.
Prepare written documentation
Written documentation is especially important in a business setting. So even if
a lawyer doesn't ask for documentation beforehand, it is still a good idea to
bring a copy of all documents relevant to your situation to the meeting. Spend
some time thinking about what you may have on hand. Try to organize the
documents in a logical manner before you meet with the lawyer.
