With the documents, the meeting is worth three times as much
The difference between a useful first consultation and a pleasant chat almost always lies in what you bring with you.
Without documents, a lawyer can only tell you what normally happens in cases like yours. With the papers in front of them, they can tell you what happens in yours, which is what you came for.
And there is a practical reason: dates. Many matters are decided by a deadline, and the deadline is written on a piece of paper that has sometimes been sitting in a drawer for weeks.
What to bring, depending on the matter
What to ask before you leave
Four questions, and none of them is awkward.
Which deadlines are running and which comes first. That is the only truly urgent thing.
What options there are, including doing nothing. A lawyer who sees only one way out is often seeing their own.
What it will cost and how you will be charged. In writing, in an engagement letter.
And who will handle the matter. In a small firm the answer is easy; it is worth asking anyway.
Further reading: what to check before buying a home in Madrid and what to check in your rental contract.
Questions about the first consultation
How long does it last?
Ours, one hour. Enough to explain the case, go through the documents and leave with the next steps in writing.
Can I send the documents beforehand?
Better. That way the meeting starts with the matter already read, not reading it.
Can it be done by video call?
Yes, and for document-based matters it works just as well.
Will what I say stay between us?
Yes. Professional secrecy covers what is said in a consultation, whether or not you hire us afterwards.
What if my case cannot be fixed?
We tell you that day. It is the part of the job nobody thanks you for at the time and everybody thanks you for later.