At your first appointment, you will be asked to fill out an initial client interview form. This form contains information such as your name, physical address, mailing address, date of birth, Social Security number, county of residence, and the name of the person who referred you to my office. If you were not referred by a particular person, the referral source is requested (i.e. telephone book ad, radio ad, etc.). All the information is requested for a particular reason. Social Security numbers are now required on certain court documents, but those numbers will be disclosed only as required by applicable law or Supreme Court rule. In addition to the information requested about you as the client, I will frequently need the name, address (including county) and, if you can obtain it, the data birth and Social Security number of all children involved in the case as well as the person or persons who are the other parties to the lawsuit. At the first appointment, you will be asked to give a description of the facts. It is absolutely essential that all facts be related to the attorney even if you do not believe certain facts are relevant or important. The only way an attorney can give correct advice is if the attorney has all of the facts. Even leaving out one simple fact might dramatically change the advice or alter the result. An attorney cannot be held responsible for incorrect advice where the attorney bases the advice on an incomplete statement of the facts. Be sure to disclose all facts, even those facts which are embarrassing or which you may think unimportant or damaging to your case. Once you have discussed the case with your attorney, the attorney will decide whether to represent you or not. If the attorney decides to represent you, the attorney will discuss with you the fees and you will be required to sign an employment agreement so that there is no misunderstanding about the fees. If the attorney decides not to represent you, that may not mean that you do not have a good case, but may simply mean that the attorney does not wish to handle your case. In the event your case is refused, be sure to consult with other attorneys, because it is likely you will find attorney willing to take your case. Remember that there are deadlines for filing cases with the courts or with the agencies involved, and if you do not file before the statute of limitations expires, you will lose forever your right to file your case and pursue your legal claim.