What to Bring to an Initial Consultation So You Do Not Waste the First Hour

A strong initial consultation begins before the meeting. The better the facts and documents are organized, the more of the first session can be spent identifying next steps instead of reconstructing basic history.

The five-item consultation packet

Bring: a one-page timeline, the latest notice or order, the most important supporting documents, a list of every known deadline, and three to five questions you need answered. If the matter has a case number, agency number, account number, or docket number, include it at the top.

Separate facts from theories

Write down what happened in date order before explaining why you think it happened. This keeps the review grounded and makes it easier to identify missing evidence, procedural issues, document conflicts, and the next research question.

Choose the consultation that matches the stage

Use TOFG's Introductory Consultation when you need the matter classified and the immediate next step identified. Use Strategic Planning/Initial Consult when you already have the core documents and need a more developed action map. Arriving organized makes either session substantially more productive.