LegalClientTools

Consultation Preparation Checklist

Prepare for an initial consultation so the meeting produces decisions rather than a list of things to find out.

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Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser

An initial consultation is short and expensive, and it is routinely spent establishing facts that could have been assembled beforehand. A meeting that begins with a chronology and the key documents in date order gets to advice; one that begins with "let me try to remember when that happened" does not.

This checklist works from either side. For a client it covers what to prepare and what to ask. For a practitioner it is a list to send in advance so the meeting starts further along.

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How to use the consultation preparation checklist

  1. Write the chronology first - it organises everything else and reveals what is missing.
  2. Gather documents in date order rather than by type.
  3. Work through the questions section before the meeting, adding your own.
  4. After the meeting, write up notes and follow up anything you did not understand in writing.

What people use this for

  • Preparing for a first meeting with a lawyer.
  • Sending to a prospective client so the consultation is productive.
  • Making sure a deadline already running is identified immediately.
  • Keeping a record of what was agreed at an initial meeting.

The chronology does most of the work

A dated sequence of events is the single most useful thing anyone brings to a first consultation. It organises the documents, reveals the gaps, and frequently identifies the deadline that nobody had noticed was running.

It also shortens the meeting considerably, which matters when the meeting is being charged for. Twenty minutes spent writing it beforehand routinely saves an hour of establishing the same facts conversationally.

Ask about the bad outcomes

The most valuable question in a first consultation is what the realistic range of outcomes is, including the ones nobody wants. An adviser who only describes the good outcome is either being optimistic or being asked the wrong question.

The same applies to cost. "What will this cost" invites an estimate; "what would it cost if this goes badly and runs to a hearing" invites a considerably more useful answer.

Write it up immediately

Memory of a dense one-hour meeting degrades within a day. Notes written the same afternoon are the difference between a record of what was advised and an impression of it.

Anything that was not understood should be followed up in writing rather than left. A short email asking for clarification is normal, welcome, and far cheaper than proceeding on a misunderstanding.

Methodology and assumptions

What this calculator does, and what it deliberately does not do.

  • The checklist is a general preparation sequence for an initial legal consultation and is not specific to any jurisdiction or practice area.
  • Progress is stored in your browser using local storage and is never uploaded.
  • The tool performs arithmetic or date counting on the values you enter. It does not interpret a rule, a statute or a contract.
  • Nothing you type is transmitted or stored - the calculation runs entirely inside your browser.

This website provides general informational and productivity tools and does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

The date and deadline tools count days exactly as you instruct them. They do not interpret court rules, statutes of limitation, filing requirements or any other legal authority, and they do not know the rules of your jurisdiction.

Always verify any date, fee, or calculation against the governing rule, the court calendar and your own professional judgement. If you need legal advice, consult a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

Is an initial consultation free?

It varies by firm and practice area. Ask when booking - and if it is free, ask what it covers, since a free consultation is usually scoping rather than advice.

What if I do not have all the documents?

Bring what you have and say what is missing. An incomplete picture identified early is far better than a complete one assembled after advice has been given.

Should I bring someone with me?

Often helpful for recall, but be aware that in some circumstances a third party’s presence can affect privilege. Ask when booking if it matters.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is a preparation checklist. It does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

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