Preparing to Meet Your Attorney


⬇ PDF
✉ Email
🔗 Share
Law Office of Forrest Good PLLC

923 S. Alamo St., Suite 2 · San Antonio, TX 78205 · (210) 236-1441 · info@forrestgoodpllc.com
Bexar County Client Worksheet

Preparing to Meet Your Attorney

A short worksheet to organize what matters before meeting with your attorney, so the time is focused and useful. Fill it in beforehand, or fill it in together.

1. Your information

2. The matter

3. What happened, in your own words

Write what is remembered while it is fresh. What is shared with your attorney in confidence is protected by the lawyer-client privilege and the duty of confidentiality.[4]

4. Bring these if you have them

  • Any citation, ticket, or charging paperwork
  • Bond paperwork and a written list of every bond condition
  • Any police report, incident report, or affidavit that was provided
  • Every court notice or letter received about the case
  • A photo ID and the cause or case number
  • Names and contact information for any witnesses
  • Anything signed about the case, and names of anyone who has made contact about it
  • Information about any prior record

Questions for your attorney

Write the questions to be answered, so nothing gets forgotten at the meeting.

Your goals and constraints

Know where you stand

A person charged with a crime has the right to a lawyer.[1][2][3] A person is presumed innocent, and the State must prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.[5][6] Any Texas attorney’s license and standing can be confirmed through the State Bar of Texas.[7]

Sources

  1. U.S. Const. amend. VI (right to the assistance of counsel) [source]
  2. Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963) [source]
  3. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 1.051 (right to representation by counsel) [source]
  4. Tex. Disciplinary Rules Prof'l Conduct R. 1.05 (confidentiality of client information) [source]
  5. In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358 (1970) (proof beyond a reasonable doubt) [source]
  6. Tex. Penal Code Sec. 2.01 (presumption of innocence; proof beyond a reasonable doubt) [source]
  7. State Bar of Texas, Find a Lawyer (verify an attorney's license and standing) [source]
Legal Notice. This worksheet is a free educational resource from the Law Office of Forrest Good PLLC and is not legal advice. Reading or using it does not create an attorney-client relationship, which is formed only by a signed engagement agreement. Forrest Good PLLC, responsible attorney. Forrest Good is not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Provided under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct 7.01 to 7.06.

This article is part of the firm’s free educational library. Forrest Good PLLC is not accepting new clients. Anyone seeking a criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio can find one through the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association at www.sacdla.com or the State Bar of Texas at www.texasbar.com.