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What Goes On During an Initial Consultation Meeting?

Have you been arrested and charged with a misdemeanor offense in Orange County, CA? Your friends, family, and coworkers have probably advised you to seek the services of a criminal defense lawyer. Listen to their advice. Having an experienced Orange County, CA criminal defense lawyer protect your rights could result in reduced or even dismissed charges.

So, how do you decide which criminal defense lawyer is best for your case? If you don’t already know a criminal defense lawyer, an Internet search can provide you with plenty of potential candidates. Most of these lawyers offer a free, initial consultation to discuss your case.

What is an Initial Consultation?

An initial consultation is a meeting between an attorney and a prospective client. This first meeting allows both sides to get to know each other.

Most attorneys request that you fill out a questionnaire before your visit, so they know a little something about your situation when you come to the meeting. It’s a good idea to show up with a list of questions, as well as any relevant documents or evidence you have in your possession. Make copies that you can leave with the lawyer.

During the initial consultation, the attorney will ask you to explain the nature of your legal problem. He’ll want to know what the charges against you are as well as the circumstances that led to your arrest.

Once the attorney learns some of the details of your case, they’ll be able to explain what your legal options are, the feasibility of achieving your legal goals, and a general idea of how much the case will cost you.

The initial consultation will give you the opportunity to ask the lawyer any questions you may have. You can learn more about their experience, especially when it comes to handling cases similar to yours. They don’t know enough about your case at this point to provide any specific legal advice, but they can answer general questions about what to expect in your situation.

What Happens Next?

If the attorney doesn’t feel he has the expertise to handle your particular case, he can probably refer you to a lawyer who does. If the attorney feels he can help you with your case and you feel optimistic about his abilities to do so, the next step is to hire them to represent your case. The lawyer will ask you to sign an agreement and pay an initial retainer fee. This will enable them to get started working on your behalf.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with Orange County CA Criminal Defense Lawyer Jim Tanizaki

If you’ve been charged with a felony or misdemeanor offense in Orange County, CA, schedule a free initial consultation with Orange County, CA criminal defense lawyer Jim Tanizaki. Jim is a former Orange County DA turned criminal defense attorney. This gives him a perspective few attorneys possess. He knows the tactics the state will use to get a conviction, allowing him to craft effective defense strategies.

You can get in touch with the law office of Jim Tanizaki through our website or call us at (714) 655-7633 to schedule your free initial consultation meeting.