how to get lawyer help for small business

12 Best Places to Find Free Legal Advice Online.

• 1. The Small Business Association (SBA) One of the best places to find free legal help is through your area’s small business association. For example, ...
• 2. Your Local Chamber of Commerce.
• 3. Local Non-Profit Agencies.
• 4. The Secretary of State.
• 5. Attorney Communities.

Full Answer

How can a small business lawyer help form a business?

A small business lawyer may be able to get a court order to take down defamatory online posts. As a faster measure, a lawyer may send a cease and desist order to get the culprit’s attention. Just like a business lawyer can help form the business, it can help develop policies regarding the ending of the business.

How can an attorney help you protect your business?

An attorney in this area of the law can help you draft employee manuals and ensure safety standards are in place. Some of the employment aspects that could affect your business are wrongful terminations, workplace discrimination, and sexual harassment. This isn’t a complete list, which is why this type of lawyer can keep your business protected.

Do I need a lawyer to run my business?

While you certainly don't need an attorney for every step of running your business, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. This article will explain when you can cover legal issues on your own or with minimal attorney assistance and when you will definitely need a business lawyer.

What kind of lawyer specializes in small businesses?

Lawyers often specialize in either business law or personal law. For this reason, you should search for lawyers who have business law experience. The following sections describe six types of lawyers for small businesses.

Business Formation

Before starting a business, there are a number of key decisions you must make and legal requirements you must comply with.

Business Transactions

Sometimes, you might need an attorney to help your business with transactional matters.

Contract Drafting and Review

No matter what type of business you own, you will almost certainly require contracts at some point or another.

Intellectual Property

As your business grows, you may discover it is time to hire a small business attorney to help protect and pursue your intellectual property rights.

Business Disputes and Litigation

No matter how smoothly your business runs, there is always a possibility that a dispute will arise.

How to Get Lawyer Help for Startups

The decision to start a new business is a defining moment for any entrepreneur. It is a time of great excitement, but also a time to buckle down. This is the time to dive headfirst into learning how to set up your new startup business; a company that will showcase your innovative ideas or a platform in which to offer your unique services.

SmallBiz Business Startup Plan Options

LegalShield and GoSmallBiz are two well-respected enterprises that offer complementary support for the business industry. They are the power behind the quality business support services offered by SmallBiz.

SmallBiz Legal Benefits

This plan is available for companies who employ ten or fewer employees. It includes in its legal services the following benefits –

How LegalShield Outperforms its Competition

As you seriously begin to take steps to register your startup as a legal entity, you must decide which of the different legal entities would be the right fit for your particular startup business.

What happens when a partner leaves a company?

When a partner or major shareholder decides to suddenly exit, it can potentially threaten the ability of the business to continue operating. Closely held corporations need to have buy-sell agreements or buy-back agreements to ensure that partners or major shareholders can sell their interest without legal entanglements or placing an undue financial burden on the company.

Do business ventures involve legal maneuvers?

As you have just learned, business ventures involve quite a few legal maneuvers and know-how. While entrepreneurs must wear several hats in order to achieve some level of success, sometimes it's best to leave the more complicated matters to the experts. Visit FindLaw's Business and Commercial Lawyer Directory for a qualified attorney near you or learn more about state-specific laws on our closely held business legal answers page.

How much does a business lawyer charge per hour?

The average hourly rate for a business lawyer can range anywhere from $100 per hour in a small town to more than $1,000 per hour for a senior partner at a big city law firm. Given these rates, it’s no wonder many small business owners want to know if it’s possible to get free legal advice for their business.

What to do if your business is sued?

If your business has been sued and you need to defend yourself in court, consider looking for a firm that will work for you on a contingency fee basis. Not only does a contingency fee structure work in your favor, but it also incentivizes the attorney to work harder on your case so that they can get paid.

How to get free legal advice?

That being said, here are five ways to find free legal advice: 1. Attend free legal workshops and pro bono clinics. Most state bar associations, which are responsible for licensing attorneys in the state and regulating their work, have requirements for free or pro bono hours that lawyers have to complete each year.

Do law schools have free legal aid?

Law schools also have clinics where law students and professors can give you basic guidance about a legal issue. Some law schools have clinics that specifically serve entrepreneurs and a small business clientele. Free legal aid clinics can fill up fast, so make sure you sign up for an appointment well in advance.

Do volunteer lawyers represent you?

Volunteer attorneys attend these events and provide basic legal advice. Keep in mind that these lawyers will not represent you, but they will be able to answer basic questions in a short session (usually half-hour sessions). State bar associations often have free legal aid hotlines.

Do attorneys offer free initial consultations?

Many attorneys offer free initial consultations to satisfy their state bar’s requirements on pro bono hours. This consultation is an opportunity for you to ask initial questions and to discover if the lawyer is a good fit for you and your business.

Can a lawyer use a contingency fee?

Choose a lawyer who uses a contingency fee structure . It may surprise you to know that many lawyers these days are open to creative billing arrangements to get more small business clients. Instead of an hourly rate, business lawyers can use a contingency fee structure or alternative arrangements.

What happens if your business doesn't cause environmental problems?

An environmental issue arises and your business is involved (even if your business didn't cause the environmental problem, you may be penalized) Negotiating for the sale or your company or for the acquisition of another company or its assets.

Do you need legal help when it's too late?

But when you do, it's good to know where to find the right one. And -- more to the point -- you may not know you need legal help until it's too late, as attorneys can help you stay in compliance with the law and spot developing legal issues early.

What to Look for in a Lawyer

Before looking for an attorney, decide what kind you need. Common fields include:

Find Free and Low-Cost Legal Help

These programs offer a variety of ways to get legal aid. Some limit their services to people with low incomes.

Find Legal Resources for Specific Groups

Stateside Legal - Find free legal help for military members, veterans, and their families.

Do you have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Why is it important to hire a lawyer?

However, if your business is subject to a lawsuit, you’ll be relieved that you hired a lawyer. When evaluating lawyers, you should ask a lot ...

What is a general business lawyer?

1. General Business Lawyer. As the name suggests, a general business lawyer can provide legal advice on a wide range of matters. This type of lawyer has a hand in every legal discipline. If your business doesn’t deal with special circumstances, a general business lawyer may be well suited to your purposes.

What is a CPA for a business?

Taxes for businesses can get complicated. For this reason, it pays to use a qualified tax professional, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). While a CPA can be beneficial when your business gets audited, there could be a situation where the tax authority decides to take legal action against your business.

What kind of law do lawyers specialize in?

People sometimes wonder what types of lawyers are available to them. Lawyers often specialize in either business law or personal law. For this reason, you should search for lawyers who have business law experience.

What is an employment lawyer?

Employment and Labor Lawyer. Using an employment and labor lawyer only makes sense when your business has employees. If it does, your business should comply with state and federal laws. An attorney in this area of the law can help you draft employee manuals and ensure safety standards are in place.

What happens when you buy and sell a business?

When you buy and sell businesses, you’ll negotiate for the property and assets of those businesses. It may not always be clear what you’re entitled to during these negotiations. It pays to have a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lawyer representing your interests in the transactions.

Can a lawyer review a contract?

In addition, some lawyers are knowledgeable about tax issues, even if they aren’t accountants. They may have handled legal tax matters for other business owners and can make sure you don’t run into the same issues.

Corporate Governance

• While most corporations will use an attorney to help with the process of incorporation, new businesses sometimes neglect the on-going legal requirements to maintain their corporation status. Annual shareholder, director, and partner meetings need to be held, and recording of minutes and the election of officers must conform with state requirements....

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Intellectual Property

Employment Agreements

Exit Strategies

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