Most business lawyers charge by the hour, so here are some ways to ensure a smaller bill: 1. Organize your thoughts into concise notes. 2. Ask the other side to draft the first version of any contract, or bring a template you want to work from. 3. Identify a precise objective that you want to obtain. 4. Listen carefully, and answer exactly the questions that the lawyer asks of you. 5. Bring a notebook to take notes to review later, to clarify any points you didn't understand. Practicing law is about issue spotting.  Law school and bar exams tell the reader a story (John and Sally were in a hot air balloon when a tank exploded and John fell and broke his arm) and then ask them to identify all the claims and defenses that might be available to the parties.  Because this is how lawyers are trained, the most efficient way of communicating with your attorney is to identify the facts relevant to your particular issue first.