What do I need to bring to my first lawyer appointment?

A first appointment with a lawyer has gone well if, at the end, the lawyer can tell you what your chances are and what happens next. That only works if they know the facts. In the office, this used to mean bringing folders, telling the story, answering questions – and the half hour is over before your own questions come up. With Rechtigo, all of this is already in your case file before the appointment, and the lawyer has read it. This article shows what belongs in the case file and what you should think about beforehand.

The most important documents

Upload everything that has to do with the case, even if it seems unimportant to you. The lawyer decides what matters. Typical documents are:

• Contracts: employment contract, tenancy agreement, purchase contract, insurance policy, depending on the case.
• The letter it’s all about: notice of termination or dismissal, official notice, payment reminder, formal warning, fine notice, invoice, statement of claim.
• The envelope: with deadlines, what counts is when the letter was received. A photo of the envelope with the postmark, or the proof-of-service note, can be decisive.
• All correspondence: e-mails, letters, messages, including your own replies.
• Evidence: photos, videos, expert reports, receipts, bank statements, names and addresses of witnesses.
• Earlier decisions: judgments, settlements or official notices connected with the case.

You don’t have to hand over originals; scans or phone photos are usually enough, as a PDF, Word file or image. Rechtigo reads uploaded documents and adds the key details to your case, such as the opposing party, the date of service or a case reference; the lawyer can see which file each detail comes from. So you don’t have to type these details in. And if something else occurs to you after uploading, simply add it; the case file shows you that the file has arrived and your lawyer has been notified.

Dates and facts

Besides the documents, the lawyer needs a few details. Rechtigo asks for them when you describe your case, so they are there before the appointment:

• Who your matter is against. With the name of the opposing party, the lawyer can check before the appointment whether they already represent that party and would therefore have to decline your case.
• Dates and deadlines. When was the official notice served, when did you receive the notice of dismissal? These dates determine the deadline; the case roadmap shows you the deadline traffic light for it.
• Your legal expenses insurance. Insurer, policy number and excess, if you have one. The lawyer can then clarify cover before any costs arise.
• Background. Whether another lawyer has already dealt with the matter and whether there has already been contact with the opposing party’s insurer.
• For road traffic accidents: accident report, number plates, the opposing party’s insurer, the police reference number, and whether you were driving yourself.

Have your ID ready for the appointment so the lawyer knows who they are representing.

What happened, in your own words

Your case description is the most important document. Write down what happened, in order and with dates; half a page is enough. You don’t need legal terms and you don’t have to know which area of law the case belongs to. Rechtigo assigns the area of law and summarises your description for the lawyer, so they can grasp the case in a few minutes.

Also describe what speaks against you. The lawyer is bound by professional confidentiality and can only advise you if they know the whole story. Awkward points they only learn from the opposing party harm your case more than being open in your description.

What you want to achieve

When you describe your case, Rechtigo asks what you would like to achieve. Take a moment for this: do you want a severance payment or to keep your job? Do you want to get out of the contract or have the work put right? Do you want money or peace and quiet? The lawyer can only tell you whether a goal is achievable if they know what it is, and there are often several routes that differ in length and cost.

Questions you should ask

Because the lawyer already knows the facts, there is time in the conversation for what you really want to know:

• How do you rate my chances, and what speaks against me?
• Which deadlines are running, and what happens if we miss them?
• What are the next steps, and how long do they take?
• What will it cost, who bears the costs in the end, and will my legal expenses insurance pay?
• How does working together via the case file work, and how quickly do you reply to messages?

Note down your questions beforehand and the answers during the conversation. For a video appointment, you can keep your notes next to the screen.

What you shouldn’t do

Before the appointment, don’t sign anything the opposing party puts in front of you, and don’t make any statements, for example to an insurer or the police. Don’t delete any messages, not even unpleasant ones. And don’t wait until the deadline has almost expired before booking the appointment. The sooner the lawyer knows the case, the more options they have.

Checklist before the appointment

• Case described in your own words, with dates and with what speaks against you
• All contracts and letters relating to the case uploaded, envelopes photographed
• Correspondence and evidence uploaded
• Opposing party and others involved named
• Legal expenses insurance entered with policy number
• Goal stated and questions noted down
• ID ready; for video appointments, camera and microphone checked

This article provides general information and does not replace advice on individual cases.

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