Questions to ask before hiring a solicitor

Start with a short, factual enquiry

You could open with: ‘I am looking for help with [brief type of task]. It concerns [state or territory], and I have a document mentioning [date]. Does your office handle this work, and what information do you need before arranging a meeting?’

Use a verified contact channel. Ask how the office wants to receive any names required for a conflict check before sending a detailed account or attachments. A receptionist may be able to explain the booking process without being able to answer a legal question.

Find out what you are booking

An introductory phone call, an advice appointment and a document review may be different services. Ask which one is being offered. A ‘free consultation’ label is not enough to establish what is included; check the duration, purpose, documents covered and any charges for work afterwards.

If you have accessibility or language needs, describe the arrangement you need rather than assuming every office offers it. Ask whether a support person can attend and whether that should be discussed with the lawyer first.

• What will we cover during this appointment?
• Will someone read my documents beforehand?
• What will I receive afterwards, if anything?
• What fee applies to the appointment and any preparation?

Ask about the working arrangement

Find out the name and role of the person who would handle the work. Ask what happens when that person is away and how you should raise a question. A practical answer about process is easier to compare than a general assurance that the firm is responsive.

If the matter could involve several stages, ask which stage the current proposal covers. You might be asking for an initial assessment rather than agreeing to every possible step. Have the office explain where a new decision or further agreement would be needed.

If you only have a few minutes, ask these first

Use the first call to decide whether to arrange a fuller discussion. You can leave detailed questions about a working relationship for that meeting, but avoid leaving the basic booking arrangements unclear.

• Does the office handle this task and the relevant state or territory?
• Can someone address the date I have mentioned, and what must happen before the office can accept the work?
• What exactly am I booking, with whom, and what does it cost?
• What should I send, by which channel, and what will the office confirm next?

Follow up without retelling the entire story

A short confirmation message can keep the enquiry organised: “Thank you for speaking with me. I understand the proposed meeting is about [task], with [person], and the appointment fee is [amount or not yet confirmed]. Please confirm the documents you need and the next step.” This is a suggested enquiry format, not wording that creates or changes a legal engagement.

If an answer was unclear, name that gap: “I am still unsure whether document reading is included.” One precise follow-up question is easier to resolve than a long email that mixes new events, fee questions and assumptions about what has been agreed.

Finish with a clear next step

Before ending the conversation, read back your understanding: ‘I will send the documents using your agreed method, and you will confirm the appointment and its cost.’ If the office has not agreed to act, do not assume it is monitoring dates or handling correspondence for you.

Record answers in your own words. If two offices give different answers, identify whether they are proposing different work before comparing them. Leave any unanswered question marked ‘not confirmed’ instead of filling the gap with an assumption.

Common questions