Most people walk into a first meeting with a lawyer and tell their story. That's natural, but it means the questions that would shape everything after it don't get asked until much later.
Ask these early.
1. What does the process actually look like from here, step by step?
Uncertainty about process is where most of the fear lives. It matters even more if you're outside England and Wales, in a US state, or anywhere the process has its own shape. Never assume what you've read online describes your system.
2. What's realistic to ask for, given the evidence I actually have?
Notice the second half of that question. It's the important half.
3. What third-party records should I request now, before they're needed urgently?
School, medical and other records take longer to arrive than anyone expects.
4. What are the weakest points in my case, from your professional view?
Then compare that with what you found yourself.
5. What should I stop doing, in writing or in person, starting today?
Nobody asks this one, and it's the most useful of the five. It often produces a pause and then something genuinely valuable, because it assumes you might be part of the problem, which isn't how most clients arrive.
One warning sign
Be wary of anyone who implies they can guarantee you an outcome.
And write it down
Take notes in the room. You won't remember the answers, and you'll want them later.
General information, not legal advice. Court process differs between countries and regions; check anything that matters to your case with a qualified lawyer where you live.
Chapter 15 of the workbook covers working with a lawyer, and Chapter 17 covers requesting third-party records, the answer to question three. Your own red-team findings (Worksheet H) are what you compare against question four.
See the workbook & spreadsheet