What do I need to bring to my first meeting?

In a criminal matter. The arrest paperwork, charging documents, any citation, bond paperwork, any correspondence from the court or the State, and any documents an officer gave you. Your court date if you have one. A list of any prior arrests or convictions, including out of state.

In an injury matter. The crash report or its number. Insurance information for everyone involved — including your own declarations page, which shows your PIP, UM, and whether it stacks. Photographs. Medical records and bills you have. Anything received from any insurer. Wage records if you've missed work.

In both. A written timeline of what happened, in your own words, made before memory fades.

Also bring the hard things. Prior injuries to the same body part. Prior claims. Anything you're worried about. Those come out eventually, and disclosed is far better than discovered.

And note anything with a deadline — a court date, a ten-day notice, an insurer's letter.