What to bring and what to expect when you meet with a lawyer who works for free
A pro bono lawyer works without charging you a fee, but the meeting itself works like any other legal consultation: you need documents, a clear story of what happened, and specific questions about what comes next. The lawyer will use your first meeting to decide whether they can take your case and what it will cost in time and resources. Showing up prepared — with papers organized, dates written down, and a one-page summary of your situation — makes that decision faster and gives you better information about whether this lawyer is the right fit.
Pro bono lawyers often work through legal aid organizations, bar associations, or law firms that donate time. They are real lawyers with real caseloads, so they expect you to be ready to work. This guide walks you through what documents to gather, how to organize your story, what questions to ask, and how to follow up after the meeting ends.
Key Takeaways
- Bring original or certified copies of every document related to your legal problem — contracts, letters, court papers, photographs, emails — organized in chronological order.
- Write a one-page timeline of events with dates, names of people involved, and what happened, so the lawyer can understand your situation in the first five minutes.
- List your specific legal questions in writing before the meeting, ranked by what matters most to you.
- Ask the lawyer directly whether they will take your case, what the next steps are, and when you should expect to hear from them again.
- Take notes during the meeting and ask for the lawyer's contact information and any instructions for what you should do before the next meeting.
Gather and organize all documents before you arrive
Bring originals or certified copies of every piece of paper connected to your case. This includes contracts, leases, loan agreements, letters from the other party, emails, text messages (printed or screenshotted), court documents, police reports, medical records, pay stubs, tax returns, photographs, receipts, and anything else that shows what happened. If a document is in another language, bring both the original and an English translation if you have one.
Organize these documents in chronological order — earliest first — and put them in a folder or envelope. If you have a lot of papers, use a simple table of contents or number them. Write a sticky note on the back of each document with the date and a one-sentence description of what it is. This takes 30 minutes but saves the lawyer an hour of sorting and asking you questions.
If you do not have originals, bring what you do have. A photograph of a document, a text message screenshot, or a handwritten note about a conversation is better than nothing. Tell the lawyer what you have and what you do not. They will tell you what else they need before moving forward.
Write a one-page timeline of what happened
Before the meeting, sit down and write out everything that happened in order, starting with the earliest event. Include the date (or approximate date if you are not sure), what happened, who was involved, and what you did about it. Keep it to one page. Use simple language and stick to facts — what you saw, heard, or did — not what you think it means.
Example: "June 15, 2023: Signed lease with landlord John Smith for apartment at 456 Oak Street. Lease says rent is $1,200 per month. August 1, 2023: Gave landlord written notice that the roof leaks. Landlord said he would fix it. August 15: Roof still leaking. Sent email to landlord with photos. September 1: Roof still leaking. Landlord has not responded to emails."
This timeline is not a legal argument. It is a map. The lawyer will use it to ask follow-up questions and to understand what happened without you having to explain the whole story twice. Bring a copy for yourself and a copy to give to the lawyer.
List your specific questions in writing
Write down every legal question you have, no matter how small it seems. Rank them by importance — put the question that matters most to you at the top. This list keeps you focused during the meeting and makes sure you do not leave without an answer to what you actually came to ask.
Examples of specific questions: "Can my landlord evict me for reporting the leak to the city?" "What does it cost to file a small claims case?" "If I lose, do I have to pay the other side's lawyer fees?" "How long does this usually take?" "Can I do this without going to court?" "What happens if the other party does not show up?"
Avoid vague questions like "What should I do?" or "Is this legal?" Those are too broad for a first meeting. Instead, ask about the specific outcome you want or the specific step you are stuck on. Bring this list written down and refer to it during the meeting so you remember to ask everything.
Know what information the lawyer will need from you
Be ready to answer these questions clearly and honestly: What is your full legal name and date of birth? What is your address? What is your phone number and email? Do you have a job, and if so, what is your income? Are you currently involved in any other court cases? Have you talked to another lawyer about this? What is the other person's or organization's full name and address?
The lawyer will also ask you to describe what happened in your own words. They want to hear your version first, without interruption. Then they will ask follow-up questions. Answer what they ask, not what you think they should ask. If you do not know the answer, say so. If you need to think about it, say so. Do not guess or make something up.
If you are nervous about speaking English or if you are more comfortable in another language, tell the legal aid organization or the lawyer's office before the meeting. Many organizations have interpreters available, and some lawyers speak multiple languages. Asking for an interpreter is not a problem — it is normal.
Prepare to discuss money and time
Pro bono means the lawyer does not charge you a fee, but you should still understand what the case will cost in time and what you might have to pay for other things. Before or during the meeting, ask: "Will you take this case?" "How long do you think it will take?" "What will it cost me in money, if anything?" "Are there court filing fees?" "Will I have to pay for expert witnesses or investigators?" "If we win, can we ask the other side to pay some of these costs?"
Some cases move fast — a few weeks to a few months. Others take years. Some cases cost almost nothing out of pocket; others require you to pay for filing fees, document copies, or expert reports. The lawyer should be honest about this from the start. If they cannot take your case because it is too expensive or too time-consuming, they may refer you to another lawyer or organization that can.
Write down the answers to these questions. You need to know what you are signing up for.
Take notes and confirm next steps before you leave
Bring a notebook and pen. Write down the lawyer's name, phone number, email, and office address. Write down what the lawyer said about your case — what they think the main legal issue is, what they think will happen next, and what they need from you. Write down any deadlines or dates the lawyer mentions.
Before you leave, ask directly: "Will you represent me in this case?" If yes, ask: "What do I need to do before we talk again?" "When will you contact me?" "Should I contact the other side, or should I wait?" "What should I do if something changes?" Write down the answers.
If the lawyer says they cannot take your case, ask why and ask for a referral to someone who might be able to help. Ask if there are other organizations you should contact. Get this in writing if possible — a business card or a note with a name and phone number.
Follow up after the meeting
Within a few days, send the lawyer an email or call to confirm that you understood what they said. Example: "I wanted to confirm that you said you would file the complaint by March 15 and that I should not contact the landlord until you tell me to." This creates a written record and gives the lawyer a chance to correct any misunderstanding.
If the lawyer said they would send you something — a contract, a list of documents to gather, a court date — and you do not receive it by the date they said, follow up. Send an email or call. Do not assume they forgot; sometimes mail is slow or email goes to spam. A polite follow-up keeps things moving.
If your situation changes — the other side contacts you, a deadline passes, you find a new document — tell the lawyer right away. Do not wait for the next scheduled meeting. A quick email or phone call can prevent problems later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I do not have all my documents organized before the meeting?
Bring what you have. Tell the lawyer what documents exist and where they are. The lawyer can tell you which ones matter most and ask you to send them later. It is better to show up with messy papers than to delay the meeting while you organize them perfectly.
Can I bring someone with me to the meeting?
Yes. You can bring a family member, friend, or advocate. Tell the lawyer's office ahead of time that you are bringing someone. The lawyer may ask your guest to step out for part of the meeting because of attorney-client privilege, but most lawyers are fine with you having support in the room.
What if I do not understand what the lawyer is saying?
Stop them and ask them to explain it in simpler words. Lawyers use jargon without thinking about it. A good lawyer will slow down and use plain language. If they do not, that is a sign they may not be a good fit for you.
How do I know if this lawyer is right for me?
Pay attention to whether they listen, whether they answer your questions directly, and whether they seem to understand your situation. You should feel like they take your case seriously and that you can work with them. If something feels off, trust that feeling and ask for a referral to someone else.
What if the lawyer says they cannot take my case?
Ask why. Ask for a referral to another lawyer or organization. Ask if there is anything you can do on your own in the meantime. Some legal aid organizations have multiple lawyers, so you might be able to talk to someone else. Do not give up after one "no."