We begin by understanding what happened, reviewing the papers and identifying what you want to achieve. Preparing for the meeting helps us use the time well and establish what needs further research or documentation before advice can be completed.
ConsultationClient questionsExplain why you are seeking legal assistance. You may want to recover money, review a contract before signing, end an employment relationship or bring or defend a claim.
Tell us what you need and what concerns you, even if you are unsure of the appropriate procedure. Together, we will identify the legal questions that determine the next step.
Prepare a summary from the beginning of the relationship to the latest development. Include significant dates, the parties and their roles, actions taken, and money or documents given or received.
Tell us if you are unsure about a date or event. We can refer to the papers during the meeting to complete the chronology and check details.
Gather the contracts, schedules, receipts, correspondence, notices and court papers relevant to the matter. Organise them where possible and keep complete copies, including all pages, signatures and attachments.
Keep relevant emails or conversations in their original, complete form and make them accessible for review. Understanding a message may depend on the messages before or after it.
When arranging the appointment, tell the office about any hearing, document served on you, signing date, payment deadline or date for taking action.
Have the relevant paper and its receipt or service date available. Reviewing it may be the first priority before discussing the rest of the matter.
Tell us if another lawyer has considered the matter, a complaint has been submitted or an administrative or court procedure has been taken. Bring the papers relating to those steps.
Include any earlier negotiations or agreements and explain whether they have been performed in whole or in part. This helps establish the current position and provides a complete basis for advice.
Explain what the other party may rely on, including messages, documents or agreements that you think may weaken your position.
Knowing these details allows us to examine them and discuss their implications from the outset, assess the matter and prepare for the issues that may arise.
If you are contacting us for a company or another person, explain your role and the authority you hold. Tell us who will attend, give instructions and follow up the matter.
Depending on the work, we may need evidence of capacity or authority. Agree with the office what is required before sending identification documents or sensitive records.
Knowing the parties and their roles at the outset helps us consider whether we can accept the instruction and whether a conflict of interest may arise.
Start with the necessary identifying information and a brief description. Then agree with the office which papers should be reviewed and how they should be shared.
Write down the questions you want to discuss, such as the available options, missing documents, urgent steps, proposed scope of work and arrangements for fees and expenses.
Mention practical circumstances affecting your decision, such as the continuity of your business or the need to end a relationship by a particular time.
Begin with a short description and agree which documents to send and which channel to use. Make sure files are legible and complete, and give each file a descriptive name.
Keep the originals and tell the office which originals you hold and which documents were provided as copies. If an original is needed, agree how it will be delivered and how receipt will be recorded.
Preserve relevant papers, correspondence and files as received, including envelopes, attachments and available sending and receipt information. Use a separate copy for summaries or notes.
If you are asked to sign a new document or send a response before the meeting, explain the request and its deadline so that the office can assess what needs urgent review.
We listen to your account, review the available papers and identify questions and missing documents. We then discuss the options that can be assessed and any steps requiring urgent attention.
Further research or review may be needed before advice is complete. We explain what the assessment depends on and what we need from you to proceed.
Make sure you understand the next step, the documents or instructions needed from you and any dates requiring attention. If further work is proposed, discuss its scope and how it will be agreed.
This helps you understand what has been considered, what remains under review and whether any action depends on an engagement, document or further instruction.
Tell us the nature of the matter, your preferred contact method and any approaching deadline.
Consultation