We live in times when it is necessary to meet with... lawyer it has already been "de-mystified" in a way. Just a dozen or so years ago, such a meeting was a somewhat embarrassing circumstance, intentionally hidden. Many a person was even afraid to admit to using legal advice, treating it as somewhat of a "disgrace". The association evoked by meeting a lawyer was almost immediately linked to suspicion of some abuse or participation in the so-called "dubious underworld". However comical this may sound today, the fact remains that using legal advice has never been as widespread and generally accessible as it is now. Therefore, a large part of Poles, especially at the beginning of the Third Polish Republic, lost quite a lot of their assets – in various reprivatisation scandals or by complying with certain tax office orders issued without legal basis. Today, however, the next generation is already richer for those experiences.
It simply makes sense to use a lawyer's help – because it is wiser and, in the end... cheaper than the consequences of not using professional legal assistance.
Legal services – then and now
What's more, we are currently living in completely different times when it comes to using professional services legal services it is an expression of common sense and prudence in managing one's affairs, both professional and personal. However, despite the popularisation of this type of service, it is difficult to say unequivocally whether everyone who uses these services is aware that it is worth preparing for a meeting with a lawyer, just like for any other serious conversation.
Current reality presents us with ever new challenges, which are sometimes difficult to meet without professional legal knowledge. Additionally, the need to use legal assistance no longer relates only to the purely professional sphere or issues related to, for example, running a business (i.e. related to so-called professional transactions). Because we use the services of a lawyer just as often today in seemingly ordinary personal matters. This applies to: family matters, inheritance matters or investment activities (such as purchasing real estate).
And this is no longer solely related to the necessity of using such advice (e.g. due to entering into a legal dispute with an administrative body or as a result of circumstances falling under criminal law), but to one's own, unforced will to use them in order to secure one's interests as effectively as possible – as, for example, when concluding a contract, such as a lease agreement, a construction works agreement, or a developer agreement.
Society has evolved over the years, becoming more aware of its rights. In the past, whoever had more strength won, then whoever had more land, then armour and weapons, connections, and money successively became the tools of advantage – today we live in times when the one who is right and knows how to present it appropriately, or secure their interests, wins the dispute. Legal Counsel is precisely a professional who is employed to represent the interests of Clients and protect their rights.
Many people, including many friends and family members of the author of this text, would not have lost a great deal of money if they had decided to seek the help of a specialist in time.
Therefore, in anticipation of our clients' needs, we are openly publishing our price list, which includes sample prices for the services we provide, because we want people to stop being afraid of unpredictable costs.
Legal assistance.
Choosing a law firm and preparing for a meeting
The development of legal services has also resulted in the fact that making an appointment with a lawyer is no longer a major problem. All you need to do is find a law firm whose services you wish to use. It is true that such searches can sometimes be a bit difficult, but friends or family (who may have already used such services), or the readily available internet and the opinions contained therein can help us.
Additionally, there are now so many law firms that you can simply go to the one closest to your place of residence. However, this is not the best idea, as Szymon Hołownia once wisely said: I don't understand why people spend dozens of minutes choosing a restaurant where they will eat dinner, and choose the confessor with whom they will share their greatest secrets and worries at random.
It's similar with a lawyer – let's choose one who has the appropriate qualifications (for example, is a legal counsel), experience, or specialises in the area related to our problem or interest. Generally speaking, lawyers and legal counsels are professions of public trust, which involves an inherent obligation to provide information reliably. Consequently, they cannot undertake to solve legal problems if they lack the appropriate knowledge and experience.
Having chosen a law firm whose services we would like to use, it is nevertheless not advisable to simply visit them "off the street" – although, of course (especially in truly justified cases), this is not entirely impossible, it carries a very high risk that we will not choose the right time, or that the most competent person who could handle our case will be in court or finishing a time-sensitive document. As a result, we will often pay for two consultations. Therefore, it seems much more sensible to call in advance to arrange a meeting with a legal counsel, while also factoring in a timeframe that allows both yourself and the necessary (case-related) documentation to be prepared.
Of course, some people cope very well spontaneously, "going with the flow", while others prefer to prepare meticulously for the meeting, outlining the issues they would like to discuss and the scope of potential questions. Considering the types of cases we most often seek assistance from a legal counsel for, it seems that regardless of personality type, it is worthwhile to adopt the latter approach in every case – i.e., to prepare for the meeting meticulously (as far as possible). Let us remember that:
secondly - we take up valuable time both for ourselves and for others;
In order to prepare well for a meeting with a lawyer, you should first consider the expected result. Of course, depending on the type of problem, without sufficient knowledge, we may not be aware of our rights. Nevertheless, it is worth considering and presenting your expectations, which the legal advisor will then be able to verify in terms of applicable law.
For example: Anna Nowicka informed her husband Krzysztof Nowicki that she intended to file for divorce. Although Krzysztof Nowicki is aware of the worse "condition" of their marriage for some time, he is completely surprised by the information provided. However, bearing in mind the specific legal steps already taken by the wife and knowing that this is not just another threat from her, she also decides to prepare for the situation and its potential consequences. So he arranges a meeting with a legal advisor. Let's check before your visit how much does a divorce cost?, in terms of legal services.
In order to prepare for the above-mentioned meeting and conversation with a lawyer, Krzysztof Nowicki should consider what his expectations are. Namely, he should consider whether he really wants to proceed as efficiently and amicably as possible divorce case in order to definitively "end" the marriage, or would he like to "fight" for it by giving his wife time to think about her decision, for example, by establishing a temporary separation between them.
Of course, matters in this category are very personal, and therefore difficult and delicate. It is not easy to conduct a consideration while completely ignoring the emotional aspect that accompanies such circumstances. Nevertheless, precisely because of the importance of the consequences that the decision resulting from these considerations may bring (divorce), it is worth taking time for them.
Legal Counsel provides assistance in legal matters and, after agreeing on steps with the client during a meeting, will generally take specific legal action. They can help with potential negotiations or present the legal aspects of specific actions and their consequences, but they do not fulfil the role of a therapist who helps make decisions on the personal (and simultaneously vital, like the very fact of the marriage's "to be or not to be") dimension.
As a rule, therefore, it is best to approach a legal advisor with a (even if preliminary) outline, which will, of course, usually undergo certain modifications after the meeting. Thorough preparation, however, allows you to gain the most from a meeting with a lawyer.
Furthermore, before the meeting, it is worthwhile to outline (e.g., in bullet points) any issues you would like to discuss during it – including doubts, emerging questions, and even hypothetical and possible (from your perspective) solutions. In this case, you need not fear presenting potentially misleading suggestions to the lawyer, as if they are unfeasible or unfounded, they will be verified by them based on their knowledge and experience.
In addition, it is a good idea to jot down the circumstances of the case that seem important to you and that you would like to convey to the legal advisor, but at the same time, you fear that – due to the stress or nerves caused by the meeting – you will forget to mention them. This can be done point by point and concisely. The method of recording is not important. What is important is that the method is effective, i.e., that it captures aspects that, in the heat of various other important thoughts and nerves, might slip your mind during the meeting.
Legal support. Choosing the form of the meeting
In the context of the need to meet with a legal advisor, and given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, let's also remember that we are no longer limited to traditional face-to-face meetings. An increasing number of law firms are offering their services remotely, either by telephone or online (e.g., via email). You can then present your legal issue by phone or by sending an email.
Subsequently, we receive information about the possibility of providing legal advice and its price. However, after paying a certain amount, we "receive" legal advice via telephone consultation or via e-mail. Of course, sometimes it may be necessary to use both of the above. form.
For example: Jan Kowalski signed an addendum to his existing employment contract, changing some of its terms. Initially, he thought everything was clear and beneficial for him, but after some time, he began to have doubts about certain aspects of the new terms. He therefore decided to seek legal advice. However, due to the ongoing pandemic and the fact that it was not a matter of great importance (only intended to clear up doubts), he decided that he would like to receive advice by telephone.
He found a law firm that provided services in this way, contacted them, and after paying the fee, presented his problem to a legal advisor during a telephone consultation. Despite Jan Kowalski verbally explaining the entire situation, Legal Counsel decided that in order to thoroughly assess the problem, he would like to read the content of the above-mentioned employment contract and the agreement concluded by the client. Jan Kowalski sent the required documents to the indicated e-mail address and then Legal Counsel contacted him regarding a further meeting, with the aim of presenting his point of view and his proposed solution to the matter.
Let us remember that, depending on the situation and individual circumstances, lawyers provide any additional answers and information in order to exhaustively (in accordance with the presented issue and the chosen form of "service") and, at the same time, properly, fulfil the commissioned service. Regardless of the method of providing legal advice (i.e., regardless of whether it will be a traditional face-to-face meeting, a telephone consultation, or a "virtual" one), every professional providing legal advice, meaning legal advisor or lawyer is obliged to maintain the same reliability typical of his profession in providing his services.
Legal assistance.
What to remember during the meeting?
Let us remember that in order to make the most of the time allocated to us by a legal advisor, we should ask questions questions – and this, regardless of the nature of the doubts that arise (which may seem insignificant at first glance). The principle "There are no stupid questions. Only stupid answers." should apply here. At the same time, the preparation process for the meeting, indicated above, plays a huge role in this regard. This is because the ability to ask constructive questions generally requires knowledge of the subject. And knowledge of the subject requires self-analysis and consideration. At the same time, one should not be afraid of asking questions themselves.
Experienced Legal Counsel is aware that certain issues that are obvious to him (due to the acquired experience and knowledge) may be completely incomprehensible and complicated to someone who has no knowledge of the law at all. At the same time, it should not be a reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed. After all, there are areas in which everyone, regardless of their extensive level of knowledge and skills, needs help (like many people Legal Counsel I need help with, for example, technical issues related to car repairs or home repairs or installations.
The world has been constructed in such a way that mutual human dependency is an inherent part of its functioning. And the fact of needing another person (from a philosophical point of view) enriches mutual relationships and completes them. So let's not be afraid to ask seemingly silly questions.
In addition to conducting your own analysis regarding the subject matter that we intend to present at the meeting with the legal advisor, you should also prepare relevant documentation concerning this issue. documentation.
For example: Maria Pawłowska intends to make a large investment in the form of purchasing an apartment in an attractive housing estate in the capital. However, the developer's construction of the apartment building is still in the site preparation phase. According to today's common saying, Maria Pawłowska buys a "hole in the ground".
At the same time, to finance a significant part of the planned purchase, she intends to take out a mortgage, for which she has already met with a representative of her chosen bank. He positively assessed her creditworthiness, presented additional conditions and required documents, and handed over a draft loan agreement. The apartments were being reserved from the developer at breakneck speed, and Maria Pawłowska was very keen to purchase an apartment of a specific size and on a specific floor. Therefore, she quickly signed a preliminary agreement and paid the required deposit. However, at the stage of signing the development agreement (the draft of which she had also received) and the loan agreement, she decided to seek legal advice and therefore arranged a meeting with a legal advisor.
Therefore, Maria Pawłowska should bring with her all documents in her possession relating to the planned purchase, including: the signed preliminary agreement (with attachments), as well as the received drafts of the loan agreement and the development agreement. Furthermore, during the conversation when she books her appointment with the lawyer, she should also ask what other documents (in the context of the outlined subject matter) she should bring with her. Commercial premises lease agreements can also be written with the help of a legal advisor.
In view of the above, regarding the questions, in this case too we have the right to inquire further lawyer (or the person making the meeting booking on their behalf) about the documents which are necessary or may be needed for the given matter.
When preparing these documents yourself, you should adopt the principle that it is better to have more than less. Therefore, you should take all the documents you possess to such a meeting, perhaps even those which, from your point of view, may not "be useful" (but are somehow related to the subject of the matter).
Alternatively, it is advisable to sort them in such a way that during the meeting you hand over those that are certainly necessary, and then, for example, hand over those which [the lawyer] will ask for – while informing about everything you have managed to gather. Documentation is most often necessary for a proper legal analysis – the more complete it is, the better advice you will be able to obtain (!).
As we know, discussions can vary; sometimes they are charged with emotions, our hypotheses, conjectures, or assumptions, which, due to their subjectivity, are not always consistent with the actual existing state of affairs. Sometimes, an assessment of possible solutions to a matter based on verbal communication can differ from that resulting from the analysis of presented documentation. And in matters of resolving disputes on a legal basis, the primary and, as a rule, overriding value lies with evidence in a materialised form (i.e. in the form of documents such as, for example, contracts, statements, invoices, signed declarations, etc.).
It should be remembered that a meeting with lawyer may be associated with unintended embarrassment, nervousness, and stress. And sometimes even people with an extroverted disposition, who shine at gatherings as the life and soul of the party and who usually have no problems with interpersonal relationships, succumb to this.
After all, however, a meeting with a lawyer often involves touching upon very sensitive issues. Consequently, the peculiarity of the topics discussed during such a meeting (sometimes they are difficult personal matters), as well as the fact that it is, after all, a meeting with a stranger, can sometimes cause us unprecedented discomfort and stress in our previous relationships.
And this often leads to problems with remembering words and how to formulate one's thoughts. Therefore, preparation and writing down the issues chosen for discussion, as well as writing down important points provided by a lawyer. It can also fulfill a kind of re-analysis function - by putting the words we have heard down on paper, we can calm down our racing thoughts and start interacting by e.g. legal advisor doubts about the solutions he presented.
Legal support. What's next?
After the meeting, you simply need to follow the lawyer's suggested solution to the problem, in its most basic form of course. Depending on the type of service provided and the adopted method of handling a case, doubts may arise even after the meeting and further consultations may be necessary.
What seems like a simple problem at first glance can become complicated due to complex circumstances, and many issues that appear difficult and convoluted can be resolved with little effort due to a favourable "environment". In this respect, legal advice follows its own unfathomable rules. Therefore, the initial consultation is intended to help us understand the nature of the problem, while the rest of the service is a further, usually paid, analysis.
If you plan to use our services Legal Adviser's Office We propose (if possible in this case) to adopt the following scheme:
1. Telephone or email, or booking an initial online consultation – arranging an appointment and providing (in a few sentences) a general overview of the case.
2. Sending documentation by email to the Firm's address before the meeting. biuro@klodzinskikancelaria.pl – this will allow us to get a preliminary understanding of the meeting's topic, and discretion is guaranteed anyway due to the profession.
3. Independently consider and write down the following issues in a note:
the expected outcome of the case;
expected outcome of the meeting;
key questions to lawyer;
According to the American maxim: Help me, help you.
