Legal cases are distressing; there are no two views about it. But a good lawyer can make them a little less stressful. But, how do you find a good lawyer? While suggestions and reviews can help you shortlist a few lawyers, you cannot decide which one to hire without meeting them in person. Same goes for lawyers – they need to meet potential clients to find out if they can work with them.
This is what the initial consultation is for – to help both the client and the lawyer decide if they can work together. However, an initial consultation or the first meeting can be unproductive and a waste of time if you go for it unprepared. Attorney Michael Avery, provides his advice in a new article that is available on his blog, https://michaelaveryesq.law.blog
To help you make the most of time and reach a decision, here are a few things you should remember while going for a lawyer consultation:
* Ask If There Is a Consultation Fee
First things first, ask the
lawyer if there is a fee for the meeting. Lawyers typically charge a per
hour fee, so if there is a consultation fee, make sure to make the most
of it. Ask all the necessary questions that can help you decide if you
want to hire the lawyer or not. Do not waste time in discussing
unnecessary or less important questions. If you don’t want to pay for
the first meeting, look for free consultation lawyers. There are some
lawyers who offer free-of-cost consultations.
* Make a List of Questions
No matter how intelligent you are or
how sharp your memory is, this is not the time to show it. Always, write
down all the questions on a paper or a notebook before going for the
meeting to make sure you do not forget anything important.
While the questions may vary from case to case, here are some general questions to ask a lawyer in the first meeting:
* Does your case fall into the lawyer’s area of expertise?
* How many similar cases has the lawyer handled in the past?
* What options do you have – both legal and out-of-court?
* What problems are likely to occur in your case?
* How is the other side likely to respond? What is their plan of action likely to be?
* How likely is it that the case will get settled in your favor?
* How long will the case take to conclude?
* Is the lawyer going to personally handle the case? Or are they going to transfer it to a team member, colleague or junior?
* If any other lawyer is going to be involved in the case, ask if you can meet them before finalizing the contract.
* How will the lawyer charge for the case – on an hourly or per-meeting basis or is there a flat fee?
* Ask about the accepted modes of payments to avoid any problems later on.
Be Prepared for Lawyer’s Questions
Just like you have a lot of things to ask, lawyers also take all the important information in the first meeting to decide whether they want to take up the case or not. This includes your personal details, your narrative, and all the information you can provide about the case.
Take Relevant Documents
Lawyers do not just rely on verbal information, they need written documents and proof that can help them determine the strength of your case. So, make sure to carry all relevant documents to the initial lawyer consultation, no matter how insignificant they appear to you. Sometimes, a small and seemingly insignificant piece of evidence can change the direction of the case.
Preparing for your first meeting with a lawyer is critical for your case, so don’t take it lightly. If you are well-prepared, the initial consultation will be enough for you to decide whether you want to work with a lawyer or not.
Michael L. Avery, Sr.
Michael Leon Avery, Sr., personal injury attorney in Fairfax, Virginia. Michael Avery has over 20 years of experience in advocating for clients who have been injured in a wide array of accidents—from car and truck accidents to bicycle crashes to accidents caused by drunk drivers.
He became a lawyer after a distinguished career in the U.S. Marine
Corps. Former Captain Michael L. Avery, Sr. was born in Long Beach,
California on January 5, 1959, but grew up in Natick Massachusetts.
After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University with a B.A. degree in
History and Politics and Government, Michael Avery attended Officer
Candidate School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on December
18, 1981. Upon completion of The Basic School, he was selected for
assignment as an infantry officer and attended Infantry Officers Course
in Quantico, Virginia. After graduation from IOC he was assigned to 2nd
Battalion, 7th Marines at Camp Pendleton as a Rifle Platoon Commander in
Golf Company. While assigned to Golf 2/7, Second Lieutenant Avery
participated in Operation Colonel Potlatch in the Aleutian Islands as a
Rifle Platoon Commander and Team Spirit as a Weapons Platoon Commander.
During the battalion’s overseas deployment to Okinawa in 1983, then
First Lieutenant Avery attended and successfully completed Naval Gunfire
School in the Philippines. Following the 2/7’s overseas deployment, 1st
Lt. Avery was assigned as the 81mm Platoon Commander for 2/7.
First
Lieutenant Avery was augmented as a regular officer in August of 1983
and selected for assignment to recruiting duty at 12th Marine Corps
District on Treasure Island, San Francisco, California. His initial
duties were as a Contact Team Officer and serving as a “floating”
Operations Officer for various Recruiting Stations including RS Portland
and RS Seattle. Then First Lieutenant Avery was reassigned as the
Executive Officer of Recruiting Station San Francisco where he completed
his assignment on recruiting duty in August of 1987. Promoted to
Captain, he was assigned to 3rd Landing Support Battalion in Okinawa
Japan as the S-3A. At 3rd LSB he was detailed as augment S-4 for 35th
MAU only five weeks prior to deployment for Exercise Balikatan. Working
outside his MOS, he successfully completed the planning and coordination
of combined ship and air embarkation and Combat Service Support plans
for a MAU sized operation. Upon his return to 3rd LSB, he was reassigned
to 9th Marines for Team Spirt as part of the regimental staff.
Following Team Spirt, then Captain Avery served as the S-3 for 3rd LSB
prior to his selection to attend Amphibious Warfare School. Upon his
successful graduation from AWS, Captain Avery resigned his commission to
attend law school at the American University Washington College of Law.
Michael L. Avery, Sr., Esq. is proud to have served as an Infantry Officer and a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. He lives by the motto: Semper Fidelis, or Semper Fi, which means “always faithful”. He believes deeply in the justice clients deserve and works hard to achieve it case after case.
Contact
Michael L. Avery, Sr., Esquire
The Avery Law Firm
10382 Democracy Lane
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
P: 703-462-5050 F: 703-462-5053
Website: https://semperfilawyer.com
Practice Areas
* Auto Crashes
* Vehicle Rollovers
* Motor Vehicle Fatal Injuries
* Commercial Vehicle Accidents
* Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist
* Claims
* Distracted Driver Accidents
* Road Rage
* Truck Accidents
* Hit-and-Run Accidents
* DUI Accidents
* Passenger Injuries
* Motorcycle Accidents
* Bicycle Accidents
* Pedestrian Accidents
* Slip and Fall
* Personal Injury
Experience
Since 1998, Michael Avery has been the
principal attorney of The Avery Law Firm in Virginia. Previously, from
1981 to 1992, Mr. Avery served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and achieved
the rank of Captain.
Education
Mr. Avery received his Juris Doctor
(J.D.) from the American University, Washington College of Law, in
Washington, DC in 1994. Prior to his law studies, he graduated from Ohio
Wesleyan University with a B.A. in History & Politics in 1981.
References
Law Firm Website: https://averyassociateslaw.com/
Blog: https://michaelaveryesq.law.blog
News: https://attorneygazette.com/michael-avery%2C-virginia
Attorney Profile: https://solomonlawguild.com/michael-avery%2C-attorney
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-l-avery-sr-6b02012/
News: https://hype.news/michael-avery-esq
Michael Avery, Esq 