How to Find the Right Small Business Attorney
Are you struggling with small business issues? Issues that may call for legal help to make sure your business is protected? A small business attorney will not only guide you by using their professional knowledge but also relieve the stress you may be having.
Read further on how to find the right attorney for you.
Introduction
If you are a small business owner, there is a good chance you put a lot of time, energy, and focus on your business. You’ve had to work to get it off the ground and help it grow with lots of nurturing. Sound familiar?
What you probably don’t have, however, is the expert legal knowledge to help protect yourself, your employees, and your business as a whole. And that’s okay – that is why there are attorneys that specialize in handling all the paperwork and needs that come from owning a small business.
Except, well, there is just one problem: How do you find the right small business attorney that will be able to help your business?
Finding the right attorney can seem like a daunting task – especially when you aren’t even sure what you need! Let’s help reduce the size of that task from a mountain to a tiny ant hill. What do you say?
The Role of a Small Business Attorney
Hiring an attorney for your business may seem like a big expenditure – one that may leave you questioning whether you even need one.
Short answer? You do.
The role of a business attorney is to handle things, such as:
- Reviewing and drafting business contracts.
- Negotiating those contracts – on your behalf – if necessary.
- Keeping your business in compliance with laws and regulations.
- Handling employment issues.
- Representing you – and your employees – during legal cases.
- Helping you keep your business property, tangible and intangible, protected.
- Filing all the start-up paperwork and/or handling any transitions within the business.
Keep in mind that these are only a few of the many situations that a business attorney can handle. You will want to determine what type of needs you have that your attorney can take care of.
Be Careful with Your Social Circles
Social media affords us so much more instant information than ever before. Years ago, you may have asked a trusted friend about attorney referrals. Now all you have to do is post a question about your search on social media and you’ve got yourself tons of recommendations.
Don’t be so quick to jump on them.
Here’s the deal – what may work beautifully for one person may not be what you need for your business. Besides, people are quick to post responses on social networks. For instance, he or she may have heard of someone or maybe even had a quick interaction with an attorney and will be quick to list him or her as a recommendation for your business. Without any further research, you could assume this trusted person’s experience was valid and land yourself the wrong attorney for your business.
The bottom line is that you need to do your due diligence. Feel free to ask around, but there is too much at stake to just hire based on recommendation, no matter how trusted the source.
The Fee Arrangement
Nobody likes to talk about fee arrangements, but when you are a small business owner, this is important. Hiring an attorney is going to be an expense for your company. Depending on what you want the attorney to handle, it may even be a great expense. When you are a small business, though, you may find yourself weighing the pros and cons trying to determine if you really need to hire a lawyer.
If you want things done right, you will want to make that hire. Just be sure that you can afford the attorney before doing so. Talk about the terms of the fee arrangement. Some attorneys work on a flat fee, for instance, when it comes to filing incorporation docs.
On the other hand, if you are seeking representation in a lawsuit, the attorney may work on a contingency base, only getting paid if you win the case. Other attorneys take an equity portion in the business for their legal assistance. And, still, others have you sign a retainer agreement, allowing them to be on-call for you whenever you need them.
Decide what you can and can’t do, and be sure to talk it over with the potential attorney.
Ask the Right Questions
You have to ask the right questions if you want to find a lawyer who is a perfect fit for your small business. Set up a consultation and ask all the right questions. This includes:
Information about the law firm itself.
- Are they located nearby? Is their office easily accessible for you?
- How long have they been in business?
- What is their specialty? What type of experience do the attorneys have?
- Do they have a network of attorneys to handle a variety of issues?
The types of clients they have:
- Does the attorney (or firm) represent clients in your niche?
- What is the average size of their business clients?
- Do they handle legal issues for others similar to yours?
- Do they offer references that you can speak to?
Communication:
- What are the hours of availability?
- Are they easy to communicate with? Do they explain things in a manner in which you understand?
- How will you communicate with one another – email, phone, in person, through a paralegal? And how regularly will this happen?
Allow Yourself Options
Don’t just pick the first attorney you meet with. There are so many options out there – so allow yourself to choose. It usually doesn’t cost anything to have an initial consult with an attorney so take advantage of this. This is the only way you will be able to find someone right for your company.
The attorney you hire should have the best interest of your small business in mind – and you should be able to reach him or her when needed. As the client, you should always feel comfortable and confident with your selection. Sometimes, knowing that you’ve selected an attorney from a reliable source – and one that has answered your questions in your favor – means that you can rest easy.
Contact a Small Business Attorney Today!
Your small business is important to you. This is precisely why you need to take steps to protect it and yourself – by hiring the right small business attorney to meet your needs.
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