Are You Struggling with Legal Matters or Preparing to File Suit? Finding an experienced Lawyer Can Make the Difference for Your Business While finding one may seem daunting, having an attorney who understands the law and business can make finding one much simpler.
Finding an attorney to represent your small business can be difficult, so the best way is through personal and professional referrals. Online directories or legal help sites are an additional useful way of finding potential candidates and reviewing reviews on them.
1. Ask for Referrals
One of the easiest and best ways to select an excellent small business lawyer is through referrals from trusted sources – this could include friends or family who have worked with an attorney before, colleagues at work, or members of your network.
Once you have your list, conduct some online research into each attorney and their practice. Visit their websites, social media profiles and Google search results to gain an idea of their experience and reputation.
Be wary of any red flags that arise during your research. For instance, be wary of attorneys who refuse to answer your questions about fees or make bold promises during consultations.
Many small business attorneys charge by the hour or for a flat fee for services like contract drafting and incorporation/formation of businesses. Select an attorney who fits both your budget and communication preferences – some prefer in-person meetings while others can communicate by phone/email.
2. Do Your Research
As well as asking for referrals, it’s a smart idea to research business lawyers in your area by reading reviews and learning more about their backgrounds. Many attorneys maintain websites where you can learn about their practice areas such as business litigation or real estate law.
Do your research on any prospective attorneys before making your selection; investigate their membership of your state’s bar association as well as their case history. It would be prudent to avoid hiring anyone who has represented both sides in a litigation suit since that could create potential conflicts of interests.
Consider that small businesses typically need legal advice on an ongoing basis, for instance when negotiating contracts or filing taxes. Therefore, when selecting a lawyer familiar with your industry and easy to work with over time it’s essential that they offer discounted rates or monthly retainer arrangements – this could save both money and effort over time.
3. Schedule a Consultation
When scheduling an initial consultation with an attorney, bring along any documents for them to review, as well as your questions and concerns list. According to the Contra Costa County Bar Association, writing these down beforehand allows for more efficient discussions about your individual legal needs with any prospective business lawyers.
Be clear on your budget when meeting with potential business lawyers, and ask how they typically bill clients or if there are other ways they could assist with cost control.
So how can prepaid legal plans save businesses money over time and cover issues like contract review and intellectual property matters? Additionally, most good business attorneys will be open to finding alternative fee arrangements with clients; such as offering flat rates for certain projects or even taking on cases on contingency (though this usually doesn’t apply in litigation). If none of these solutions meet your budget needs, why not explore free or low-cost legal aid clinics in your area?
4. Ask Questions
Be sure to bring along information about your company and the legal issue you need help with when meeting with potential small business lawyers. According to the Contra Costa County Bar Association, taking notes before meeting can help the lawyer better understand your needs and make appropriate recommendations.
Ask your attorney if they have experience working with other businesses similar to yours. If they have worked for local competitors in the past, for example, taking on your case might present them with difficulties without creating conflicts of interests.
Get to know their fee structure as a small business operates with limited budgets; therefore, discussing hourly rates and any costs upfront can prevent unpleasant surprises down the road.
