What to have ready
- Documents. Any letter, subpoena, warrant, receipt, charging document or court notice you received. Have them with you; do not send them in advance.
- Dates. When agents contacted you, when papers arrived and any deadline or court date.
- Names. The agents, agencies and prosecutors you have heard from, and their contact details.
- Others involved. Names of coworkers, businesses or family members connected to the matter.
- Questions. What you most want to know about your situation.
What not to send online
Use the contact form or a phone call to set up a conversation, not to tell the story. Please do not include a detailed account of the case or attach sensitive documents in an initial request.
Do not discuss the case on social media, in group chats or by text with others involved. Messages can be preserved and later become evidence.
Set up the conversation online. Tell the story in the consultation.
Confidentiality before you hire a lawyer
Under Florida Bar rule 4-1.18, a person who consults with a lawyer about possibly forming a client-lawyer relationship is a prospective client. Even if no relationship follows, the lawyer generally may not use or reveal information learned from a prospective client.
The comment to that rule notes that someone who sends information to a lawyer unilaterally, without a reasonable expectation that the lawyer is willing to discuss representation, is not a prospective client. That is another reason to set up a consultation before sharing details.
Before your consultation
- Do not talk to agents. If agents call or visit, you may tell them you would like to speak with a lawyer first.
- Preserve everything. Do not delete emails, texts, files or social media posts connected to the matter.
- Write it down. A private timeline written for your lawyer can help you remember details. Keep it to yourself until the consultation.
- Watch deadlines. If a subpoena, letter or court notice has a date on it, say so when you call.
Setting up your consultation
The first consultation is free and confidential. When you call (954) 648-8965, the firm will ask whether the matter is federal or state, where it happened, who is involved and how soon you need a lawyer.