Your First Employment-Law Consultation in San Diego: What to Bring

A compact checklist for preparing records, dates, questions, and goals before speaking with employment counsel.

Create a one-page timeline

List the major events in date order: hiring, promotion, complaint, leave request, discipline, pay issue, termination, or other key event. Keep the first page simple enough to scan.

Bring a focused document set

Useful records may include the offer letter, handbook, pay statements, evaluations, complaint emails, leave notices, discipline, and termination paperwork. Start with the most relevant documents rather than hundreds of unsorted pages.

Write your three biggest questions

Examples include whether a deadline applies, what facts matter most, what records are missing, how fees work, and what realistic next steps exist. A short question list helps keep the meeting focused.

Be precise about your goal

Some people want compensation, some want a reference issue fixed, some want help with leave or accommodation, and others mainly want to understand whether conduct was lawful. Clear goals help frame the conversation.

Treat the consultation as an information exchange

The lawyer will need facts to assess the issue, while you need enough information to decide whether the attorney, fee structure, and proposed approach fit your needs. Both sides should leave with a clearer picture of what happens next.