Preparing for your first meeting with a lawyer
What to bring, what we will ask you and what you should ask us, so that the first meeting is short and useful.
A first meeting with a lawyer has one aim: to understand what happened, what you want to achieve and what options you have. With a little preparation, you will leave with a clear picture of the next steps.
What to bring
- Your ID card or passport. The anti-money laundering law requires us to verify our clients' identity. We will often also ask for a recent proof of address.
- All relevant documents. Contracts, letters, invoices, summonses, decisions, photographs, emails or text messages. Bring everything; we will sort out what matters.
- A short timeline. One page with the key dates and what happened on each helps more than anything else.
- The names of the other people involved. We need them to check for any conflict of interest before we take on the matter.
What we will ask you
We will want to know exactly what happened, the outcome you are looking for, whether there are deadlines (such as a court date or a deadline to reply to a letter) and whether you have already taken any step, such as signing a document or giving a statement to the police.
What you should ask us
- What are my options, and what are the risks of each?
- How long is the process likely to take?
- What is the approximate fee, and how is it calculated?
- What do I need to do from here?
Confidentiality
Everything you tell us so that we can advise you is protected by professional secrecy, even if you do not go on to instruct us. Speak freely; an incomplete picture leads to incomplete advice.
This text provides general information under Cyprus law as at the date of publication and is not legal advice. Contact us about your own situation.