If you need a lawyer, there is a good chance that the reason isn’t good. Whether you’re facing criminal charges, need to sue someone, or were injured in an accident due to the negligence of another person, hiring a lawyer is often due to a stressful or troubling situation.

If you need to talk to a lawyer to explain your case, there are some strategies you should employ to make sure the lawyer fully understands your situation and can best serve you. Many times you will be charged by how much time the lawyer spends with you and on your case, so you need to use your time efficiently.

Read on for our tips for talking to an attorney.

Be Prepared

When you talk to an attorney for the first time, they are going to have a lot of questions. Be as prepared as possible to answer them. If you are considering a personal injury lawsuit, for example, make sure you have documentation of the accident, any medical records, receipts for medical bills, and documentation of missed work and lost wages.

The more prepared you are, the more effective your time with the attorney is. You’ll need to provide this information to your attorney at some point, so it’s smart to be prepared with it right from the start.

Tell the Truth

Attorneys and their clients have something called “attorney-client privilege.” This means that, unless you disclose a crime you are planning to commit, your attorney cannot disclose anything you tell them. This is not the time to be dishonest.

Tell them the entire truth. Without it, they won’t be able to effectively represent you or defend you, if you are facing criminal charges. The more your attorney knows, the better they can represent you. If you lie to them, there is a good chance that information is going to come out in the future, potentially at a trial, and your attorney is going to be really unhappy if that’s when they find out you’ve been lying to them.

Be Detailed

Be detailed in your responses and information. However, don’t get overly detailed with things that don’t matter. Your lawyer should ask you probing questions to get at the pertinent details.

Being prepared will help you with your details, as you can refer back to your paperwork for any dates, specific times, amounts of money, etc. in question. Things that may seem important to you are not legally relevant, but at the same time, things that you think are inconsequential may be very important to your case.

Ask Questions

Finally, make sure you ask your attorney any questions you may have, especially if you don’t understand something. You’re not an expert in the legal system. That’s why you’re hiring an attorney.

For this firm to really do its job well, you will need to be clear about the case and the strategy, and be on the same page as your attorney.

Talk to a Lawyer Confidently

Remember that when you talk to a lawyer, they are there to help. Your conversation is confidential and their job is to help you. Be prepared, be detailed, and most importantly, be honest when you speak with them.

If you found these tips helpful, be sure to check out some of our other articles.