Lead with the decision, not the whole history

Write two plain-language sentences about why you are seeking help now. For example, you may need advice before signing an agreement, a response to a notice, or an explanation of a bill. Add the state or territory connected with the matter and the date of any event already arranged. This gives the office a starting point for a suitability and availability check.

Do not try to make the first paragraph sound like a legal submission. A precise description of a document or event is more useful than an untested label for a claim. Tell the office if your immediate concern is a deadline, safety or access to important records.

Make a timeline that preserves uncertainty

Choose the events that explain the current position. Use one line per event: date, what happened, and the record that supports it. If you only know the approximate date, say so. Keep a distinction between something you witnessed, something another person told you and an inference you have drawn.

Leave the original records unchanged. The outline is an index to the material, not a replacement for it. If there are competing versions of events, note the difference without trying to resolve it through selective editing.

List documents before sending attachments

Describe the documents you hold using names an adviser can recognise: current agreement, earlier draft, notice, invoice, correspondence and existing orders. Mention missing material. Ask the office what it needs for an initial review and which secure channel to use after the relevant checks.

Sending everything immediately can expose private information before the firm has agreed to assist. A document list lets the office request a defined set and explain whether reading it is included in the appointment price.

Finish with three answerable questions

Write the three questions that would make the first meeting useful. Focus on the scope of advice you need, the next decision and the information still missing. Leave room to record who will do each agreed task after the meeting. If the lawyer requests a different format, follow that instruction.

Keep a private copy of the outline and date any changes. Do not put names, documents or the brief itself into a public directory search box. The search planner is for a broad legal topic and location.