2. Talk to the person

Arrange an in-person meeting, if possible, or a video call with the person who will be providing the legal service. If they won't agree to a video call, this could raise concerns about whether they are trustworthy.  Ask them if there will be a charge. Some legal representatives don't charge for the first meeting.

Others will charge you a fee to give you a legal opinion about your situation. This fee is usually only a part of what they will charge for your matter.

At the first meeting, the legal representative should:

• tell you about their experience with similar legal issues
• explain how they would handle your case
• ask you for the relevant facts of your case
• explain to you how the law affects your situation
• tell you your options
• give an estimate of how long they think your case will take
• explain what you should do next

If they don't provide this information, ask them for it.