By: Lauren Stahl
Fancy awards, badges, and seals are not indicative of a great lawyer. And awards are not all created equal. Business owners should heed caution when looking at lists of awards on a lawyer’s website. A deeper discussion of these so-called “vanity” or “ego” awards can be found in Part I.
Finding a lawyer for your business does not have to be a daunting task. But where should you look to find a lawyer? What questions should you ask? Consider the following advice when searching for the right lawyer for your business.
Where should you start looking?
A great place to start looking for a lawyer is the American Bar Association (“ABA”). The ABA’s website has a great deal of information not only for professionals but also consumers who have legal questions. The ABA specifically has a “Hire a Lawyer” section. On this page, you can find public-service oriented referral services and other tools, such as bar directories, that can help you find a qualified lawyer.
Beyond the ABA’s website, you can search for a lawyer by city and state via a commercial lawyer referral service, such as FindLaw. Similar services are also listed on the ABA’s website.
what are the minimal skills your lawyer should have?
Depending on the type of business you have, you may need a lawyer with the following set of foundational skills:
Contracts. You will need a lawyer who is familiar with your business practices and can prepare contracts between your business and clients, suppliers, and customers. You will also need a lawyer to help you respond to contracts that other parties will want you to agree to.
Taxes and licenses. If your business is in the startup phase, you will need a lawyer who knows how to register your business for state and federal identification numbers. Beyond that, you will a lawyer who understands the tax implications of various business transactions that your business will engage in.
Business organizations. Depending on the stage of your business, you may need a lawyer to advise you on what type of business entity to form (e.g., corporation vs. limited liability company (LLC)). This lawyer should be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each entity and to prepare any paperwork associated with formation.
Real estate. If you are leasing a commercial space for your business, the lease is likely complex and drafted to benefit the landlord. A lawyer with some real estate experience should have a standard “tenant’s addendum” that contains provisions to benefit your business. These provisions can be added to the standard “print form” lease document.
Intellectual property. If you have a media, design, or other creative business, a lawyer who has experience with registering products and services for federal trademark and copyright protection will certainly be helpful. Typically, these tasks are performed by lawyers who specialize in intellectual property. If your lawyer specializes in small businesses, then she likely has a working relationship with a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property.
whaT questions do you need to ask potential lawyers?
When interviewing potential lawyers for your business, don’t be afraid to ask direct questions. Here are a few examples of questions to ask:
Are you well-connected in the area? No lawyer can know everything about every area of the law. But a lawyer should be able to find solutions to your legal problems and refer you to lawyers who specialize in certain areas if needed. If your business has specialized legal needs, the right lawyer for your business should either be familiar with that area or have a working relationship with someone who is. This will prevent you from having to find a new lawyer every time you encounter a different legal problem.
Do you have other clients in my industry? The right lawyer will be somewhat familiar with the legal environment of your industry. If not, a lawyer should be willing to learn. One thing to consider is whether the lawyer represents one or more of your competitors. While lawyers must abide by principles such as client confidentiality, you do not want to risk an accidental slip of sensitive information to a competitor.
Are you experienced? It is important to ask direct questions about a lawyer’s experience. For example, if you know that you want to form an LLC, you might want to ask questions about her experience forming and handling other LLCs.
How do you educate your clients? A lawyer should be willing to tell you what the law says and explain how it affects your business. A lawyer should be a teacher and take the time to educate you and your staff about legal matters directly impacting business operations. The right lawyer might also distribute newsletters or legal reports that describe recent. developments in the law that impact your business.
what questions do you need to ask yourself?
After interviewing potential lawyers for your business, you will also need to reflect on the interview and should ask yourself questions when determining if this lawyer is the right one for your business. For example:
Do I like this person? You should be able to communicate openly and freely with your lawyer. Trust your instincts and feelings. If you feel that you cannot trust a certain lawyer, keep looking.
Does this person communicate with me? The right lawyer will not simply tell you what you cannot do but will tell you how to do what it is that you want to do. She will discuss all available options. The right lawyer will tell you what other businesses in your situation normally do.
Is her office conveniently located? While it might be easier to meet with your lawyer remotely, consider whether you would like to meet with your lawyer in person. If so, you likely will need to visit your lawyer often in the first few years of business. Choosing a lawyer relatively close to you or your business might be beneficial to avoid wasting travel time every time you need legal advice.
main takeaway
While there is no “right” way to find an attorney or “right” question to ask, it is possible to find the right lawyer for your business. Many small businesses wait until a problem has already occurred to hire a lawyer. Don’t be one of them.
This post has been reproduced with the author’s permission. It was originally authored on April 2022, and can be found here.
Sources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/58326
