You are fantastic! That is the first rule of meeting with me. I want you to feel comfortable, confident, and prepared. Whether we meet in my office, at your home or office, or wherever we both agree, let’s make sure it is a good experience for us both. Now, let’s talk about some specifics:
Bring Documents. If you have documents, pictures, text messages, video, invoices, medical bills, medical records, or other papers or electronic documents of any kind, bring them with you. For electronic documents, this can simply mean bringing them on your phone, tablet, or computer, or on a USB thumb drive. Also, if you are not sure I need it, bring it anyways. It’s always more efficient to have it an not need it than to need it and not have it. When in doubt, bring it.
Questionnaire. I will likely email you a questionnaire before we meet. Please review it carefully and fill it out completely. The questions will help us be efficient and effective in our meeting together.
Bring Your Questions. You are coming to see me because you have questions. Please write them down and be prepared to discuss them with me. I want you to know and understand your case and your options fully before our meeting is done.
One Hour– at Least. Your meeting with me will likely take at least an hour and may take more depending on your case. If I think it will take substantially more than an hour, I will let you know before we meet so that you can be prepared.
Timeline. Most cases have a timeline of events that are important. You should start writing out the timeline that makes sense to you. Put the events in chronologic order– meaning, put the events in time order: first, next, last, etc. This will help you be organized, prepared, and more comfortable when we start talking about it.
Privilege Part 1. If you write anything down because I asked you to or you are doing it because you read here that I would want it, please put at the top of each page (or in an email ‘subject’ line) the word “privileged”. This will help us make sure that what you are preparing for me is not inadvertently disclosed to the other side. It helps keep it private and confidential.
Privilege Part 2. Utah law strictly protects our conversation by the attorney-client privilege. When we meet, please be open and honest– any information you provide to me is private and privileged. I cannot and will not disclose the contents of our meeting to anyone unless you give me permission to do so. Note that there are very limited exceptions to this rule such as if the information you share could cause harm to you or someone else. If you have any questions about this, talk to me.
Privilege Part 3. When we meet, I need to speak to you and only you. If you bring a friend or neighbor, they will need to stay in the waiting area. This goes back to the attorney-client privilege: if you tell your friend all of the things that you and I discuss, you have abandoned the privilege. If your friend is in our meeting and hears everything we say, there is no privilege protecting our discussion from later disclosure. Do not disclose private information to anyone but me or my staff. If you do, it is discoverable in your case and may be used at trial.
Strategy. At our meeting, I will listen to your situation, review your documents, and analyze your case. I will tell you if I think you have a viable case, discuss some of the risks and benefits, and begin developing your legal claims. I will take the time to answer your questions and do what I can to ease your worries about the unknown. My advice to you is based on my years of experience, education, and specialized training. You may not hear what you expected, or what you want to hear, but I will provide you the legal realities of your case.
Moving Forward. If I agree to take your case and you wish to proceed, I will ask you to sign a fee agreement that meets the needs of your case. I will go through the agreement and explain it to you. The agreement will explain how I get paid, what my duties are, and what your duties are. Once the agreement is signed, the disclaimer on this website goes away: you will be my client and I will be your lawyer, bound to protect and pursue your interests.
Odds and Ends. I can arrange to meet you at your convenience. Call me and we’ll work out a time and place.
Call Me. You likely have more questions than this post or the other information on this website can provide. Every situation is unique. If you have been injured or are the heir of someone killed in an accident, feel free to reach out to me to discuss your circumstances. You cannot make a good decision if you do not get competent advice from a qualified, experienced attorney. You need to protect yourself and your loved-ones from the often devastating effects of permanent injury or death. You do this by pursuing what you are entitled to. Call me, message me, or contact me.
Ken