What to bring to a first consultation

A first consultation lasts 45 minutes. That is enough time to understand your situation, explain where you stand and set out your options — provided we spend it on your case rather than on reconstructing it. A little preparation makes all the difference.

1. A one-page summary of what happened

Write down the facts in the order they happened, with dates. Keep it short: one page is ideal, and bullet points are fine. Include who is involved (your employer, your former partner, a client, a landlord) and what you would like to happen next.

You do not need legal vocabulary. "My manager told me on 3 March that my position was being removed" is far more useful than a paragraph of legal terms.

2. The documents that prove it

Bring copies rather than originals, sorted by date. Depending on your situation, that usually means:

• Employment questions: your employment contract and any amendments, your last three payslips, the letter or email you received (warning, meeting invitation, dismissal) and any messages that matter.
• Family questions: your marriage or civil-partnership certificate, your family record book (livret de famille), a summary of income and major expenses, and any existing judgment or agreement.
• Business questions: your company's articles of association, the contract or terms of sale in question, the relevant invoices and your correspondence with the other party.
• Housing questions: the lease, the check-in inventory, rent receipts and any formal notice you sent or received.

If a document is long, flag the pages that matter with a sticky note. If something is missing, come anyway — we will tell you what to request and from whom.

3. Your deadlines

Some legal deadlines are short and cannot be extended. Bring anything with a date on it: a court summons, a letter giving you a time limit to respond, a hearing date, the date your contract ended. Mention them at the start of the meeting so we deal with them first.

4. The questions you want answered

Write down your three most important questions in advance. Under stress, it is easy to forget the one that kept you awake at night. The most common ones are:

• What are my options, and what are the risks of each?
• How long is this likely to take?
• What will it cost, and is there anything I can do myself?

5. Your priorities and your budget

It helps us to know what matters most to you: speed, cost, preserving a relationship, or getting a decision from a judge. We will tell you openly if a dispute is not worth what it would cost, and we always explain our fees before any work begins. If you have legal-expenses insurance — often included in home or bank-card insurance — bring the policy details: it may cover part of the cost.

What you can leave at home

You do not need to print entire email threads, bring witnesses or prepare a formal statement. Everything you tell us is covered by professional secrecy, so you can speak freely.

After the consultation

You leave with a clear picture of where you stand and a recommended next step — sometimes a single letter, sometimes a negotiation, occasionally court. If you decide to instruct us, we confirm the scope of the work and our fees in writing, and the €90 consultation fee is deducted from your first invoice.

Ready? Book a first consultation at a time that suits you — at our office near République or by video.