Read the request carefully
A grand jury investigates possible federal offenses and considers whether there is a basis for charges. A subpoena can seek records or testimony. Receiving one does not, by itself, establish that you have been charged or explain how prosecutors view your role.
Keep the complete document, including attachments and instructions. Identify who received it, which court or office issued it, what it requests, and any date for responding or appearing. Those basic details help make the first conversation with counsel useful.
Separate your questions from your assumptions
People sometimes hear the words witness, subject, or target and treat them as interchangeable. The Justice Department uses subject and target to describe different relationships to an investigation. Neither label is a conviction. Counsel should assess the communication and your circumstances rather than infer your status from the existence of a subpoena.
Write down the questions you want to ask: Is testimony requested, or records? Is the request addressed to you individually or to a business? Who holds the records? Is there an upcoming appearance? You do not need to answer those questions in an unsolicited email to the firm.
Arrange a focused conversation
When contacting counsel, lead with the response date and the kind of request. Ask how to provide a copy securely, particularly if it involves workplace information or other people’s records. A request for a consultation does not change a deadline or confirm that counsel has agreed to act.
Preserve the document and existing records. Do not alter or delete material in response to an investigation. Questions about production, testimony, privilege, and any request for more time require advice about the particular subpoena.
Prepare without sending a case narrative
A short initial message can identify your name, a safe callback number, the type of request, and the date needing attention. Save the detailed account for an appropriate conversation with counsel. If you already have an attorney or are contacting the firm for a family member, mention that at the outset.
The consultation checklist below offers a way to organize those practical details without entering them into a website. It does not assess your status in an investigation or recommend a response to the subpoena.
General information, not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship.
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