A consultation is a general first assessment of your matter and the options available to you. Independent Legal Advice (ILA) is more specific: it is formal legal advice given for a defined purpose, typically where a lender, another party to a transaction, or a court requires confirmation that you received independent advice before signing a document or agreeing to a particular term.
The two serve different purposes and produce different outputs.
During a consultation, you and the lawyer discuss your situation, the legal issues that may arise, and the options for moving forward. The purpose is to help you understand whether and how to pursue or defend a matter. For more detail on that process, see What is a consultation at ME Law?.
ILA is narrower and document-specific. It may be required in connection with a guarantee, separation agreement, release, shareholder resolution, or another defined legal document or decision. The purpose is to confirm that you received independent legal advice about that specific matter and understood the consequences of what you were being asked to sign or agree to.
The distinction can be summarized this way:
- Consultation: a broad assessment of your situation, legal position, and available options. It is appropriate where you are deciding whether and how to pursue or defend a matter.
- Independent Legal Advice: focused advice concerning a specific document, transaction, obligation, or decision. It may result in a signed certificate or written confirmation that independent advice was provided and understood.
- Further legal engagement: if additional work is required after a consultation, the scope of that work is addressed separately rather than assumed to be part of the initial meeting.
If you are unsure which service applies, the key question is what you are being asked to sign, confirm, or decide. A consultation and ILA are not interchangeable, and using the wrong process can leave a document or decision open to later challenge.
Preparation also differs. A general consultation may involve a broader factual and documentary record. ILA requires a substantive review and discussion of the particular document or decision involved. ME Law will not issue an ILA certificate without that review and discussion; a “rubber-stamp” certificate would defeat the purpose of obtaining independent advice.
If you are preparing for a broader litigation consultation, see What happens during a consultation?. For guidance on documents and more complex matters, see Do I need to prepare anything before an initial consultation?.
Contact ME Law if you have been asked to obtain Independent Legal Advice and let us know the document or decision involved.