Start with fit, not a label
A search result can tell you a firm's name and an area of practice. It cannot tell you whether that attorney will accept your matter, how a particular issue will be handled, or what your experience of communication will be. Bring a concise account of the event and ask the attorney to explain whether it fits the practice before moving into broader expectations.
Todd's published practice identifies personal injury, automobile accidents, big truck and commercial vehicle accidents, and work-related injuries. Those are the starting categories for a conversation with this office. A work-injury discussion should also clarify whether the question concerns a possible third-party claim. Do not assume that every issue arising from an injury is included in the same representation.
A checklist you can use in the room
Write down the answers in your own words, and mark anything that needs clarification. The purpose is to understand what is being proposed. A careful question about a document or a working arrangement is useful even if you have never hired an attorney before. You should leave knowing which decisions have been made and which remain open.
| Discuss | Ask the attorney |
|---|---|
| Practice fit | Does this matter fall within the work you handle, and which issues would be included? |
| Communication | Who should receive my questions and new documents, and how should I expect to hear back? |
| Records | What do you need now, what can follow later, and how should private information be provided? |
| Timing | Which dates need individual review, and what should I do with a new notice? |
| Representation | How will I know whether you have accepted the matter, and where will the scope be recorded? |
Read credentials for what they actually say
Todd's own biography identifies him as a former Assistant District Attorney, former Public Defender, and retired Military Captain. Those are the three credentials used here. Read the biography itself and ask how the attorney's background relates to the work being discussed. A credential does not decide the facts of your case or predict its outcome.
If a point in an advertisement is important to your decision, ask for a direct explanation. Distinguish a stated background from an inference about a particular type of claim. This guide supplies no ranking or comparison with other attorneys. It offers questions you can use to assess whether the conversation gives you enough information to make your own decision.
Leave with the next step understood
Ask what happens after the consultation: whether more information is needed, how the office will communicate a decision, and what document would define the work if representation is offered. Ask about the terms and responsibilities in that document. This page supplies no price or payment promise; those questions should be answered directly before you agree to an arrangement.
Keep a copy of any document you receive and a note of unresolved questions. Tell the office about dates on notices or correspondence, including anything received after the consultation. Do not assume that sending a message means an attorney has accepted the matter or taken responsibility for its timing. Confirm the status of the discussion directly.
Act 423 of the 2024 legislative session created Civil Code article 3493.1 and extended it to two years, effective July 1, 2024.
This sentence comes from the firm's Louisiana injury deadline article. Bring the actual incident date and any notices to a consultation; general information cannot determine the timing for your individual circumstances.