First meeting with solicitor. Advice please?

[NeverGuessWho]

Today I’ve got an initial meeting with a solicitor re separation/divorce.
Someone helpfully pointed out that I should ask how much experience and success the solicitor has of dealing with long, drawn out & complicated financial cases (which mine is set to be.)
It made me think that I should ask for advice on here about any other key questions to ask, or that you’d wished you’d asked at that first consultation.
Also what do they normally tell you in that first session (mine’s a free consultation)?
TIA if anyone can offer advice.

No idea re high money divorce but generally speaking:

Don't waffle - nerves and heightened emotion can make us blether on or at least I'm like that - it's a waste of their time and your time and money

Prepare the key points you want to discuss written down so you remember to mention them

Make your own notes during the conversation also allows you to not interrupt their flow but note questions that occur to you from what they say

Use the meeting to assess if they are competent, assertive and proactive

My first solicitor was dreadfully slow and passive and I stayed with her far too long, 2nd was much more on the ball and more determined on my behalf (ex was dragging it out to avoid marrying ow)

Stick to pertinent points - I made the mistake of treating first like a therapist - which suited her fine as I was on legal aid (you could still get it for divorce then) and it let her bill lots of hours! Without actually doing any work! 2nd solicitor addressed this issue with me early on, pointed out it served neither of us really and that she also wasn't qualified to act in this way and she didn't want to run the risk of making it all harder for me.

Don't be afraid to ask for clarification or address things you're unhappy about

Eg both solicitors were imo poor at acknowledging that my priority was dd and being more stringent with ex on those matters that mostly affected her.

Don't call/email them every time you think of a query, wait till you've a few - again time/money reasons but also sometimes it's good to mull on a matter before demanding solicitor does something

Hope that all is genuinely helpful

Good advice

If it's obvious why you want the divorce, you don't gave to use one for the initial filling in the divorce petition, you can just use them for the financial resolution, especially if money is limited.

You don't want to be in a position where you've employed them to do the easy bits that you could have done and then you have no money left to employ a solicitor when it comes to sorting pensions, houses and maintenance for the children, which is a common problem.

The link also covers the process for Child Arrangements and Financial Ordets.

Have a read of this on the Government's website before your meeting so that you are aware of the process and you're not wasting precious tine having them explain it to you.

Thanks - so much good advice from everyone.

I actually cancelled the appointment in the end, & I’m glad I did. I will set aside some time tomorrow to read the guide, and reschedule the appointment.