Legal Definitions - consultation

Consultation refers to the act of seeking professional advice, opinion, or information from an expert or specialist in a particular field.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a consultation:

• Business Legal Advice: A small business owner is considering expanding their operations into a new state and wants to understand the legal requirements for registering their business, hiring employees, and complying with local regulations. They schedule a meeting with a corporate attorney who specializes in multi-state business law.

  This meeting is a consultation because the business owner is actively seeking the attorney's expert legal opinion and guidance on the complex legal landscape of interstate expansion.

• Medical Second Opinion: A patient has received a diagnosis for a rare medical condition and wants to explore all possible treatment avenues before making a decision. They arrange an appointment with a leading specialist in that specific condition at a different hospital.

  This appointment is a consultation as the patient is seeking the specialist's informed medical opinion, a deeper understanding of their condition, and alternative treatment recommendations.

• Estate Planning: An individual wants to create a will and establish a trust to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes and to minimize potential estate taxes. They book an initial meeting with an estate planning lawyer.

  This meeting is a consultation because the individual is seeking the lawyer's professional advice on the legal instruments available, their implications, and the best strategies for their specific financial and family situation.