How to Prepare for Your First Meeting with a Criminal Defense Attorney

November 30, 2025
Difilippo & Pica

Facing criminal charges is an intimidating experience. Reaching out to experienced Fort Myers criminal defense attorneys provides clarity and a sense of calm in an otherwise stressful time. That said, many people facing an arrest or other consequences are nervous about that initial meeting. 

Preparing for a meeting with a criminal defense attorney will help ease your nerves and also help you organize your thoughts. For that reason, coming prepared with documents, information, and questions is always the best approach. 

First steps to take before meeting with a criminal defense attorney

Proper preparation for a meeting with a criminal defense attorney means coming to the meeting with everything you need. Scrambling in the meeting room for information or a document is understandable but not productive. Rather, consider the following steps to take before even reaching the attorney’s office:

  • Provide a written explanation for what happened during the incident in question. Including as much detail as possible helps an attorney in spotting particular issues or legal problems. 
  • Collect all documents that are relevant to your case. This includes police reports, initial court documents, or statements from witnesses. Any contacts between you and law enforcement should be documented moving forward. 
  • Come to your meeting with questions written down. Attorneys are not there to direct your case. Rather, attorneys should understand and educate their clients on the law. From there, the client can make decisions for themself. 

What questions should a person consider asking a criminal defense attorney?

Good questions in a meeting with a criminal defense attorney can start a case off on the right foot. These questions should be geared towards gaining better clarity on the important issues of a case.

  • What outcomes may result from the case? A range of outcomes for a case is crucial to understand from the beginning. This helps develop strategies for achieving the best possible outcomes in a case.
  • Does the attorney have experience with this type of criminal case?  Is the attorney someone who focuses their practice on serving people accused of crimes? Or is the attorney a general practice attorney with little experience in criminal matters? Determining which category the attorney falls into can help to make a decision on whether to proceed with his or her representation.
  • What difficulties typically arise in this type of case? Being proactive about identifying challenges in a case helps achieve better results. It is difficult to overcome problems that suddenly arise. When those problems can be anticipated, it provides a better opportunity to develop solutions. 
  • What is the best method of communicating with my defense attorney? Being direct with the criminal defense attorney to find out the best way to contact him or her is a critical question to ask. With so many methods of communication available, it is worth asking which of those the attorney prefers and employs with clients. 

Contact an experienced Fort Myers criminal defense attorney today

A criminal charge is serious. Fortunately, experienced Fort Myers criminal defense attorneys Diflilippo & Pica, PLLC serve clients who are facing serious criminal charges. Contact our office today for a consultation to discuss your circumstances and learn more about your case. 

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