A lawyer can assess your situation more easily when events are set out in order and the documents are available in full. Organisational preparation does not require you to make your own legal assessment.

Put together a timeline of the facts

Write down the dates of events, the people involved and the documents you received. Separate what can be proven from assumptions about the other side's motives. State upcoming deadlines and the steps you have already taken, including replies you have sent.

Decide what you want from the conversation

State what you need to find out: options for action, risks, documents needed or the scope of representation. Ask the lawyer's office directly about the cost and format of the consultation. Do not send all your correspondence without structure if you can attach a brief list instead.

How to prepare a one-page timeline

List events by date and give the related document or proof for each. Write down your own assumptions separately so that they do not look like established facts. Show replies already sent, commitments made and the next known deadlines. At the end, state the decision you need to make. The timeline does not replace the full set of documents, but it helps the professional quickly see the sequence and ask for the relevant parts. Do not limit the documents to pages that seem to support your position: context can matter too.

How to record the outcome and further work

Find out what was covered in the consultation, which questions remain open and what further steps are proposed. Agree the scope, terms and fees directly with the lawyer. If a coordinator is involved, set out which organisational tasks they handle and which documents they may receive. Do not present your own notes of the conversation as a written legal opinion. Before sending an important reply, confirm which version has been approved and by whom. Booking a consultation, the consultation itself and subsequent representation are different stages of working together.

What to check

  • Prepare documents with all their pages.
  • State upcoming dates and deadlines.
  • Write down up to five main questions.
  • Agree on a secure way to send documents.

Example situation

Add to “they didn't reply to me” the date of your enquiry, how you sent it and the proof. That allows you to discuss the actual sequence of events.

Next step

Good preparation leaves more time for the legal assessment provided by an authorised professional.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.