We live in times when it is necessary to meet with... lawyer has already been "disenchanted" in some way. Just a dozen or so years ago, such a meeting was a somewhat embarrassing and intentionally hidden occasion. Many people were even afraid to admit to using legal advice, treating it as a sort of "disgrace". The association aroused by a meeting with a lawyer was almost immediately associated with suspicion of some kind of abuse or participation in the so-called "suspicious underworld". As comic as it may sound today, the fact remains that the use of legal advice has never been as common and widely available as it is today. That is why a large part of Poles, especially at the beginning of the Third Polish Republic, lost quite a lot of property - in various reprivatization scandals or by implementing some orders issued without legal basis by tax offices, today, however, the next generation is richer in that experience.
It is simply a good idea to use a lawyer's help - because it is wiser and ultimately... cheaper than the effects 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 even an expression of common sense and prudence in conducting one's affairs, both professional and personal. However, despite the popularization of this type of services, it is difficult to say clearly 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.
The current reality presents us with new and new challenges, which are sometimes difficult to meet without professional legal knowledge. Additionally, the need to use legal assistance no longer applies only to the purely professional sphere or related to, for example, business activity (i.e. related to the so-called professional trade). Because today we use the services of a lawyer just as often in seemingly ordinary personal matters. This applies to: family matters, inheritance and investment activities (such as purchasing real estate).
And this is no longer associated with the mere need to use such advice (e.g. due to entering into a legal dispute with an administrative body or as a result of circumstances arising under criminal law), but with one's own unforced will to use them in order to possibly effective protection of one's own interests - such as when concluding a contract, for example a lease or construction contract or a development contract.
Society has evolved over the years and has become more aware of its rights. In the past, the winner was the one who had more strength, then more land, then armor and weapons, connections, money - today, we live in times when the dispute is won by the one who is right and knows how to present it properly or protect his or her interests. Legal Counsel is a professional professionally involved in presenting clients' arguments and securing their interests.
Many people, including many friends and family members of the author of the text, would not have lost much money if they had decided to seek help from a specialist in time.
Therefore, to meet the needs of our clients, we openly publish a price list, containing sample prices for the services provided, because we want people to stop being afraid of unpredictable costs.
Legal support.
Selecting a law firm and preparing for the meeting
The development of legal services has also meant that arranging an appointment with a lawyer is no longer a big problem. All you need to do is find the law firm whose services you want to use. The fact is that such searches sometimes cause some difficulties, but friends or family (who may have already used such advice), or the generally accessible Internet and the opinions contained therein, can help us.
Additionally, nowadays there are so many law offices that you can simply go to the one closest to your place of residence. However, this is not the best idea, Szymon Hołownia once said sensibly: 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 is similar with a lawyer - let's choose one who has appropriate qualifications (e.g. holds the title of legal advisor), experience or specializes in the field related to our problem or interest. Generally speaking, lawyers and legal advisors are professions of public trust, which involves a top-down obligation to provide reliable information. Therefore, they cannot undertake solving legal problems if they lack appropriate knowledge and experience.
Having chosen the law firm whose services we would like to use, it is not advisable to simply visit it "off the street" - although of course (especially in really justified cases) it is not completely impossible, but it carries a very high risk of not finding the right moment, or the most competent person who could deal with our case will be busy/at the hearing/finishing the letter on time. As a result, we will often pay for two consultations. Therefore, it seems much more reasonable to call in advance to arrange a meeting with a legal advisor, while allowing for a deadline to prepare both yourself and the necessary (case-related) documentation.
Of course, many people are great at spontaneously "going" to the so-called "exuberant", while others prefer to carefully prepare for the meeting by arranging diagrams of the issues they would like to discuss and the scope of possible questions. Taking into account the categories of cases with which we most often seek help from a legal advisor, it seems that regardless of the type of personality you have, it is worth adopting the second course of action in each case - i.e. (if possible) carefully preparing for the meeting. Let us remember that:
- firstly - legal support is paid. How much does legal advice cost? How much does legal services for the company cost?
- 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, giving his wife time to think about her decision, e.g. by establishing a temporary separation between them.
Of course, matters in this category are very personal and therefore difficult and delicate. Therefore, it is not easy to carry out considerations without completely ignoring the aspect of emotions accompanying such circumstances. Nevertheless, due to the importance of the consequences that the decision resulting from these considerations may bring (divorce), it is worth giving yourself time for them.
Legal Counsel provides assistance in the legal area and, after agreements made with the client during the meeting, generally takes specific legal steps. He can help in possible negotiations or present the legal aspects of individual activities and their consequences, but he does not play the role of a therapist who will help you make a decision in its personal dimension (and at the same time as important as the fact itself for "to be or not to be" a given marriage) dimension.
As a rule, it is a good idea to go to a legal advisor with a (even preliminary) outline, which, of course, usually undergoes some modifications after the meeting. However, thorough preparation allows you to benefit from the meeting with a lawyer as much as possible.
Moreover, before the meeting, it is worth outlining (e.g. in bullet points) possible issues that we would like to raise during it - including: doubts, emerging questions, as well as (even) hypothetical and possible (from our point of view) solutions. In this case, you do not have to be afraid of giving the lawyer misleading suggestions, because if they are impossible to implement or groundless, they will be verified by him based on his knowledge and experience.
Moreover, it is good to write down the circumstances of the case that seem important to us and which we would like to convey to the legal advisor, but at the same time we are afraid that - due to stress or stage fright caused by the meeting - we will forget to mention them. This can be done both point and word. The method of writing is not important. It is important that this method is effective, i.e. that it captures aspects that may be missed during the meeting in the heat of various other important thoughts and stage fright.
Legal support. Choosing the form of the meeting
In terms of the need to meet with a legal advisor and in the times of the coronavirus pandemic, let us also remember that we are currently not limited only to traditional tête à-tête meetings. More and more law firms offer their services (securely) by telephone or online (e.g. via e-mail). You can then present your legal problem by phone or by sending a message by e-mail.
Then we receive information about the possibility of granting it 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 agreement to the concluded employment contract, partially changing its terms. Initially, it seemed to him that everything was clear and beneficial to him, but after some time he began to have doubts about some aspects of the new conditions. So he decided to seek the advice of a legal advisor. However, due to the current pandemic and the fact that it was not a matter of great importance (intended only to dispel doubts), he decided that he would like to seek advice by telephone.
So he found a law firm that provided services in this way, contacted them, and then, after paying the fee, he presented his problem to a legal advisor during a telephone meeting. Despite Jan Kowalski presenting the entire situation verbally, 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 about another meeting to present his point of view and his proposed solution to the matter.
Therefore, let us remember that depending on the situation and individual circumstances, lawyers provide possible additional answers and information in order to perform the ordered service as comprehensively as possible (in accordance with the presented issue and the selected form of "service") and at the same time properly. Regardless of the method of providing legal advice (i.e. regardless of whether it will be the traditional form of a "stationary" meeting, whether it will be a telephone or "virtual") meeting, every professional providing legal advice, i.e. legal advisor or lawyer is obliged to maintain the same reliability typical of his profession in providing his services.
Legal support.
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 – regardless of the nature of the doubts (which may seem irrelevant at first glance). The rule "There are no stupid questions" should apply here. There are only stupid answers. At the same time, the process of preparing for the meeting, indicated above, plays a huge role in this respect. Because the ability to ask questions constructively generally requires knowledge of the topic. Knowledge of the topic, however, requires your own analysis and considerations. At the same time, you should not be afraid to ask questions yourself.
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 needs help, e.g. in technical issues regarding car repair or repair or installation of home equipment).
The world has been constructed in such a way that human interdependence is an inherent element 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 of the subject matter that you intend to present at the meeting with your legal advisor, you should also prepare a 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 loan, so she has already held a meeting with a representative of the selected bank, who positively assessed her creditworthiness, presented additional conditions, required documents and provided a draft loan agreement. The apartments were booked with the developer at breakneck speed, and Maria Pawłowska was very interested in purchasing an apartment of a specific size and located on a specific floor, so she quickly signed a preliminary agreement and paid the required advance payment. 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 consultations, so she made an appointment with a legal advisor.
Therefore, Maria Pawłowska should take with her all documents she has regarding the planned purchase, including: the already signed preliminary agreement (with annexes), as well as the received drafts of the loan agreement and development agreement. Moreover, during the conversation during which she will book a meeting with a lawyer, she should also ask what other documents (in the context of the outlined subject matter of the case) she should take with her. Commercial premises lease agreements can also be written with the help of a legal advisor.
Therefore, in terms of questions, we also have the right to ask questions in this case lawyer (or the person booking the meeting on his behalf) for documents that are necessary or may be needed for a given case.
When preparing these documents on our own, we should adopt the principle that more is better than less. Therefore, you should take all the documents you have with you to such a meeting, perhaps even those that may not be "useful" from our point of view (but are somehow related to the topic of the case).
Alternatively, it is a good idea to sort them in such a way that during the meeting you can provide the advisor with those that are definitely necessary, and then, for example, provide him with those that he will ask about - but informing him about everything we managed to collect. Documentation is most often necessary to perform a proper legal analysis - the more complete it is, the better advice we will be able to obtain (!).
As we know, conversations vary and are sometimes charged with emotions, our hypotheses, conjectures or assumptions which, due to their subjectivity, are not always consistent with the actually existing situation. Sometimes the assessment of possible solutions to a case made on the basis of verbal communication may differ from that resulting from the analysis of the documentation presented. However, in the field of resolving disputes on legal grounds, the basic and, in principle, superior value is provided by evidence in a materialized form (i.e. in the form of documents such as contracts, statements, invoices, signed declarations, etc.).
You must remember that the meeting with lawyer may result in unintentional embarrassment, fear and stress. And sometimes even people with an extroverted nature, who shine at meetings as the life of the party and who usually have no problems in interpersonal contacts, succumb to this.
However, a meeting with a lawyer often involves touching on very delicate issues. Therefore, the peculiarity of the topics discussed during such a meeting (sometimes these are difficult personal matters), as well as the fact that (after all) it is a meeting with a stranger, can sometimes cause us discomfort and stress that is unprecedented in previous relationships. .
And this is often associated with problems in remembering words and the way of formulating one's own thoughts. We are then helped by both the preparation (justified above) and writing down the issues selected 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, it is enough (in the simplest terms, of course) to follow the method of solving the problem received from the lawyer. Depending on the type of service provided and the method of service adopted, it sometimes happens that doubts arise after the meeting and further consultations are necessary.
A seemingly simple problem becomes complex due to complex circumstances, and many problems that seem difficult and complicated can be solved without much involvement thanks to a favorable "environment". In this respect, legal advice has its own rules that cannot be pigeonholed. Therefore, the initial advice is intended to help us understand the nature of the problem, while the rest of the service is another, 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 e-mail or booking an initial consultation online - setting a meeting date and providing information (in a few sentences) about the general outline of the case.
2. Sending documentation before the meeting by e-mail to the office's address biuro@klodzinskikancelaria.pl – this will allow us to get an initial idea of the topic of the meeting, and discretion due to our profession is guaranteed anyway.
3. Think on your own 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.