If you have not used the services of an attorney for years – or maybe ever – and a situation arises that requires legal services, there are steps you can take to ensure that first visit runs smoothly.

1. Review all the reasons you need the attorney’s services. A short, written list, highlighting the areas for discussion, as well as any questions, should keep the meeting on track.
2. Bring all pertinent documents to the initial conference. If you are selling a parcel of real estate, for example, it would be helpful not only to bring a real estate contract but information on the real estate parcel, the title policy and the land survey. If you are having a will drafted, the documents may include a rough financial statement and a list of beneficiaries.
3. Getting a handle on your expectations, especially related to the amount of time the case will take, is also important. The attorney should leave you with the feeling that the task can be accomplished within a reasonable time frame.
4. Use the first meeting to determine your comfort level. Having confidence in the attorney’s ability to assist you, both short- and long-term, is important.
5. Finally, the first visit should include a discussion about the attorney’s fees. Will you be billed on an hourly or fixed fee basis? What is the total estimated cost of the service? Are there any circumstances that might change the type of fee? In most cases, your attorney can give you a close estimate of the total cost.

Note: This information was prepared as a public service by the Illinois State Bar Association and is a joint project with the Illinois Press Association. Its purpose is to inform citizens of their legal rights and obligations.