The relationship of trust
Transmit all documents and information relating to your business
At your 1st appointment, bring all the documents you have prepared concerning your case to your lawyer.
Describe in great detail all the elements of your situation and give them all the information you have without reluctance, whether or not you feel it is useful in defending your interests.
Your lawyer will then be able to judge whether or not they are useful during the proceedings and will act in your best interests, in compliance with his professional obligations relating to loyalty, confidentiality and professional secrecy.
Tackle all the questions you have
Have the main points of law relating to your case explained to you, as well as how the procedure will work.
Don't hesitate to ask any questions that will help us to understand each other's business and to have a clear view of how your case will be managed. This will help you avoid any misunderstandings later on.
The first appointment
The 1st meeting with your lawyer is very important and will enable you to establish the principles of your relationship and provide your lawyer with all the information needed to ensure that his or her services run smoothly.
The quality of your relationship with your lawyer is essential to the success of your business and must be based on mutual trust and transparency, without which your lawyer will not be able to defend your interests properly.
This is largely a question of communication, so never hesitate to ask your lawyer any questions that concern you and to ask for any clarifications that will avoid misunderstandings later on.
Contact with your lawyer
Once your lawyer has been appointed to defend your interests, and throughout the course of the case, do not hesitate to ask him or her any useful questions or to inform him or her of any new information.
However, it is always preferable to send letters or faxes rather than telephone calls, in the interests of efficient management of your file and except in emergencies.
Settling pay-related issues
It is also during this first meeting that you and your lawyer will agree on the terms and conditions of billing and payment of their fees.
- To avoid any disputes at a later date, it is advisable to agree the method of calculation and invoicing of services in writing, in the form of a fee agreement).
- If you are entitled to legal aid, it may be useful to make sure when you make your appointment that the lawyer you have chosen agrees to assist you under the legal aid scheme.
- If you think you are eligible for legal expenses insurance or legal aid, bring all the documents you need to take the necessary steps.
- If you cannot find a lawyer willing to assist you in this way, you can submit your application for legal aid directly to the Legal Aid Office (Bureau d'Aide Juridictionnelle - BAJ) of your local Tribunal de Grande Instance so that a lawyer can be appointed for you.
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