how to choose a business lawyer

How to Find and Pick a Business Attorney in 5 Steps

• Determine why you need a business attorney.
• Source attorneys through your network or legal directories.
• Compare attorneys by asking the right questions.
• Work out a fee arrangement that fits your budget.
• Know when it’s okay to skip the small business lawyer.

Full Answer

How to find a good lawyer for your business?

 · How to Choose the Right Lawyer. Area (s) of expertise. You want to make sure that the lawyer you hire has experience in the area of law in which you require assistance. There are ... Potential costs. Legal advice can become quite costly, so it's important that you know how much your lawyer will ...

How do I choose the right lawyer?

 · As you speak to the business lawyer, listen for "red flags." You should be able to expect, at minimum, clear communication and expertise in the area of law you're interested in. Beware of lawyers who avoid answering questions about fees, make big promises, or rush through the meeting.

How to choose an attorney for a business dispute?

 · How to Find and Pick a Business Attorney in 5 Steps Determine why you need a business attorney. Source attorneys through your network or legal directories. Compare attorneys by asking the right questions. Work out a fee arrangement that fits your budget. Know when it’s okay to skip the small ...

How do I compare small business lawyers?

 · Choose The Best Lawyer You need to hire a business attorney who is multi-skilled. Capable enough to bring more to the table than just cut and dry legal knowledge. Your attorney should know how to defend their point in court. He needs to be persuasive and charming when necessary and has many other soft skills as well.

How do I decide what kind of lawyer to get?

Here are a few questions to help you determine what type of law would be a good fit for you:How Much Do You Like to Argue?How Motivated You Are by Money?How Much Control Do You Need Over Your Work Life?How Much Interaction Do You Need With Other People?What Do You Like to Do?

Is it better to hire a big law firm or small?

Smaller firms run lean as a matter of survival and that carries over to a more conscientious approach to customer service, thus minimizing the number of hours they bill. Big law firms tend to pressure associates to bill many hours, thus minimizing their incentive to be efficient.

Why are small law firms better?

Smaller firms run lean as a matter of survival and that carries over to a more conscientious approach to customer service, thus minimizing the number of hours they bill. Big law firms tend to pressure associates to bill as many hours as possible, thus minimizing their incentive to be efficient.

Why you need a law firm?

They assist the client in understanding the position of law and rights and liabilities. They represent the clients in cases in courts. They also help the client settle the cases through Alternate Dispute resolution Mechanism. They help transact business taking care of all the legal compliances.

How to get a lawyer for a business?

Contact someone you know or just call another business owner in your area. Let them know that you are starting out in business and ask if they would recommend their business lawyer. There generally will be no concern for a conflict of interest, as long as you and the other business are not directly opposing each other in a legal case.

How to decide if you want an attorney who works alone or part of a larger law firm?

Consider the size of the firm. You need to decide if you want an attorney who works alone or one who is part of a larger law firm. As the size of the firm increases, the cost is likely to increase as well. However, a larger law firm may be able to offer more services that your business might need. You should consider the future of your company and what legal work you might require.

How long should a lawyer's initial consultation be?

If you already are involved in a legal matter, you would be able to discuss that and the merits of your case. Initial consultations may last thirty minutes to an hour and be held in the lawyer’s office. If you run a large business, you might meet the lawyer for dinner or lunch.

How to find a lawyer's reviews?

Look for online reviews. Many websites contain reviews on lawyers—Avvo, Yelp, Google+. These reviews can be helpful, but you should also be careful in taking them too seriously. Such reviews are often posted anonymously, and therefore the person posting may have too much freedom. Understand that people who are upset are often more motivated to post something than people who were satisfied. As a result, these reviews are often skewed toward negative feedback.

Can an IP lawyer help you?

Larger firms often have specialists in several different fields. If you need help with an intellectual property issue, your lawyer might be able to enlist the help of an IP lawyer in the firm. If you suddenly are sued for employment discrimination, then the same firm may have employment lawyers who can help you.

Can an attorney become a specialist?

Whether the attorney has credentials as a specialist. Some states allow attorneys to earn specialist credentials in certain areas of law. For example, in California, a lawyer can become a certified specialist in franchise and distribution law, as well as in taxation .

What to do when reviewing an attorney's website?

When you are reviewing an attorney’s website, pay attention both to the content of the site as well as its overall appearance. If the website appears sloppy or contains misspellings or grammatical errors, you should be concerned that the attorney’s written work may appear the same way.

What are some good resources for finding a lawyer?

State bar associations are also good resources for finding lawyers who practice in the field in which you require assistance. Online resources can be another good source, and many such resources have the added benefit of offering consumer reviews, so you can see how other people have rated their interactions with a particular attorney.

What should a lawyer do during initial consultation?

During the initial consultation, a lawyer should be able to give you a ballpark estimate, based on the facts of your case. The legal team. Some lawyers work by themselves, while others have paralegals on their team or outsource some of the legal work to other lawyers.

What to bring to a business meeting?

Bring two kinds of information to your meetings with potential lawyers. First, bring information about your business or your case, which the business lawyer will need in order to understand your situation and make recommendations. The Contra Costa County (California) Bar Association suggests that you write down notes before the meeting, outlining what you know about the situation and what you don't know. The association also recommends that you bring all documents related to the matter.

Do lawyers specialize in law?

But in many fields of the law, lawyers tend to specialize. You might find a lawyer to handle: Your first step is figuring out what kind of lawyer handles your situation. If you're looking for help leasing an office, you'll need different kinds of expertise from someone who's defending against an employment lawsuit.

Is a lawyer an attorney?

The terms "lawyer" and "attorney" have a lot in common, but not all lawyers are attorneys.

How to find a lawyer for my business?

Doing online research is also a good idea to choose the right lawyer for your business. Here you can see different lawyer's profiles at the same time and you need not visit different law firms individually to find a lawyer for your business. Being on the web you can also check the lawyer's professional profile and check their past client reviews. It will help you to take the right decision. However, if you need any legal advice or a Personal Injury Lawyer in Oceanside then you can contact Rory Law Firm.

What are the issues with working with a larger firm?

Another potential issue with working with a larger firm is the question of who you’re actually going to be working with. Are they going to assign your work to a new associate attorney fresh out of law school? Is that associate going to be with the firm for the long-term, or will he be looking for a new job just when you get used to working with him? Will your file get passed from one office to the next?

Do lawyers have feelings?

Nobody wants to hear this from a client. Believe it or not, lawyers are people too. We have feelings like anyone else. But, for the most part, we’re also professionals, and we know that not all client relationships are going to last forever.

Do lawyers charge hourly?

Some lawyers have moved away from hourly billing entirely and only bill a fixed amount for each service.

Can an attorney live in another state?

Now, if your attorney has to go to court, he or she may have to live near you, or at least in your state. But for many business law needs, an attorney who lives in another state may be able to serve you just as well. This means that you can cast a wide net and seek out the best legal counsel for you.

Is legal services cheap?

Let’s be honest: good legal services aren’t cheap. Here are some questions you can ask to help get the most bang for your buck:

Is it better to work with a larger firm or a solo attorney?

Very complex lawsuits, for example, may be better suited for a larger firm than a solo attorney or small firm.

What can an attorney do for a business?

An attorney can help you negotiate favorable contracts and ensure you understand all the fine print. Handling employment issues: As a business’s workforce grows larger, business attorneys often step in to help with labor law compliance and to resolve wrongful termination lawsuits.

What can a small business lawyer do?

A small business lawyer can help you draft both partnership agreements and corporate bylaws.

How much does a business attorney charge?

Generally, h ourly billing rates for business attorneys range anywhere from $150 per hour for a junior attorney in a small city to $1,000 or more per hour for a top attorney at a big-city law firm.[2] With this in mind, it’s important to get all the details of your fee agreement in writing—so that you know exactly how much you’ll be paying for your small business attorney’s services.

Do small business lawyers charge more?

This is probably one of the most important questions that you’ll ask of a prospective small business lawyer. You’ll want to keep in mind, however, that less expensive doesn’t necessarily equate to better—the opposite could be true—more experienced, successful lawyers often charge higher rates. This being said, small businesses need to work within a budget. We’ll cover fees in more detail in the next section.

How do lawyers communicate?

Different lawyers have different communication preferences. Some old-school attorneys prefer in-person meetings and phone calls for quick questions. Others prefer email and use e-signature software to store and sign documents. If you’re a small business owner with a busy daytime schedule, you’ll want to make sure the lawyer understands this and that you have a way to communicate urgent matters.

Can a business lawyer represent you in a conflict of interest case?

For example, say you have a contract dispute with a local supplier. If the small business lawyer has previously represented that supplier (even if it was a different case), they might not be able to represent you without creating a conflict of interest.

Can an attorney work with multiple people?

Attorneys work with multiple people, such as associates, paralegals, and law clerks. A lawyer’s time is limited, so they often outsource some work to more junior-level staff. Although you might want your small business lawyer to do all of your work, having multiple people on your case can actually work in your favor, says Danielle Garson, an attorney with McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co., LPA.

Decide Why You Need A Lawyer

Every business needs different kinds of legal representation. If you are just starting out, you should start calling company attorneys and requesting them what their rates are for essential services such as an introductory discussion or business training.

Your Attorney Should Know About Your Niche

You definitely need to hire an attorney. But if that lawyer has no idea about your company, or how your corporation works, severe problems are likely to emerge. Your attorney should know or be willing to learn all about your specific industry because that will only boost your chances of winning any cases.

What areas should the Lawyer know about?

If you are a business, your legal counsel should be able to help you with various aspects of corporate law. This includes coordinating with your tax accountants, protecting your business interests, and helping you overcome issues and problems relating to mergers, acquisitions, and so on.

Choose The Best Lawyer

You need to hire a business attorney who is multi-skilled. Capable enough to bring more to the table than just cut and dry legal knowledge. Your attorney should know how to defend their point in court. He needs to be persuasive and charming when necessary and has many other soft skills as well.

Has the firm worked with businesses your size before?

Small, medium, and large businesses often face distinct legal issues. If you are a small business, you need a firm that is used to working with small enterprises. If you would classify yourself as a startup, then you need a firm that understands startups’ needs and objectives.

Can the firm help with all of your needs?

As a business, your legal needs are diverse. You might need a lawyer to help you set up appropriate hiring and employment practices, draft employment or client contracts, negotiate commercial real estate transactions, and ensure you minimize your tax liability.

Can the law firm scale?

You may not need all hands on deck, all of the time. However, if something goes wrong, you might suddenly need a lot of help. If you expect there may be times that the business will face an increased workload, ask firms about their ability to scale up on projects and workers.

What is the law firm culture?

When it comes to choosing the right firm for your business, you can do more than look at experience. You can learn about the firm’s culture. Does the firm champion diversity? Is it a great place for working parents? Does it promote pro bono and volunteer work? You can look for a firm that matches your own values.

Is the law firm cost-conscious?

There are many things to consider when looking for the right law firm for your business. As a practical matter, you need to review your budget and ask potential law firms about their fees. You should also ask the firms how their strategies for keeping clients’ costs down and avoiding going over budget on projects.

How does the law firm approach problems?

Not all firms handle transactions, disputes, and potential litigation in the same way.

Victoria Langley, Contributor

Victoria E. Langley is a legal content writer living in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a B.A. in philosophy from Northern Illinois University and a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School of Chicago. She strives to combine her passion for the law and writing.

What is the first qualification for a lawyer?

The lawyer will be helping you solve your problems, so the first qualification is that you must feel comfortable enough to tell him or her, honestly and completely, all the facts necessary to resolve your problem. No one you listen to and nothing you read will be able to guarantee that a particular lawyer will be the best for you; you must judge that for yourself.

What is legal group plan?

Employers or unions set up a fund to pay the employees’ legal fees, with the employee sometimes contributing a small co-payment. Legal group plans have become much more widespread in recent years. Some retail department stores and credit card companies even offer such plans to their customers.

What does legal insurance cover?

These plans vary. Many cover most, if not all, of the cost of legal consultations, document preparation, and court representation in routine legal matters. Other programs cover only advice and consultation with a lawyer.

Do lawyers use ads?

In some ways, yes, ads are useful. However, always be careful about believing everything you read and hear — and nowhere is this truer than with advertisements. Newspaper, telephone directory, radio, television, and Internet ads, along with direct mail, can make you familiar with the names of lawyers who may be appropriate for your legal needs. Some ads also will help you determine a lawyer’s area of expertise. Other ads will quote a fee or price range for handling a specific type of “simple” case. Keep in mind that your case may not have a simple solution. If a lawyer quotes a fee, be certain you know exactly what services and expenses the charge does and does not include.

Do legal aid offices have their own lawyers?

Some legal aid offices have their own staff lawyers, and others operate with volunteer lawyers. Note that people do not have a right to a free lawyer in civil legal matters. I have been accused of a crime, and I cannot afford a lawyer.