There are over 14,000 corporate attorneys currently employed in the United States. That’s a lot of attorneys to choose from!
When you pick a business attorney, you’re not just picking a lawyer. You’re picking an individual who will be your partner in business and help you achieve your goals.
You’re choosing someone who can help you navigate the legal landscape and keep you out of trouble. You want to find a corporate attorney who understands your business and works hard to protect it.
If you are wondering how to choose a business attorney, this simple guide is for you.
Set a Budget
Before you look at options for attorneys, it’s important to set a budget. You don’t want to spend too much money on legal fees, but you also don’t want to skimp on quality.
The best way to ensure that you get the right balance is to set a budget before you shop around. It’s also important to consider any other costs associated with hiring a lawyer, like retainer fees and hourly rates.
Identify Your Business Needs
It’s important to think about both the immediate and long-term needs of your business, so you can find an attorney who can help with both.
Do you need help drafting contracts? Is your company struggling with a lawsuit or other legal matter that needs immediate attention?
The more specific your needs are, the easier it will be for an attorney to find one who can assist.
Look for Referrals
If you know someone who has a great business attorney, ask that person for a recommendation. You can also consult with other local small business owners to see if they have any suggestions.
If you don’t know anyone who can refer you to someone with business law experience, check online reviews from other small business owners. The Better Business Bureau and Yelp are great places to start your search.
Consider the Attorney’s Location
The best business attorneys are those who are local to your area. If you need legal guidance with a real estate or corporate matter, it’s helpful if the attorney can meet with you in person.
A local attorney will be more familiar with the laws of your state. They can answer questions quickly without having to consult another source.
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Consider Their Team and Resources
The best attorneys have an entire team behind them that can provide support when needed. You should also consider if they have access to experts in other fields, such as accounting, finance, and marketing.
The more resources they have, the better. This means they can provide a wide range of legal services without having to hire extra support staff or consultants. It also means they can offer you more value for your money.
Evaluate Their Responsiveness
Some attorneys only respond to emails once or twice a day. Others will get back to you within hours.
You want to find an attorney who can respond quickly and efficiently.
This is especially important if you are in a bind and need advice or legal assistance as soon as possible. The best attorneys will respond within 24 hours, if not sooner.
Check for Conflicts of Interest
When you are looking for an attorney, you must ask about any conflicts of interest.
A conflict of interest means that the attorney has a stake in another case that could affect yours. If this is the case, then they cannot represent you properly.
Find an attorney who does not have any conflicts of interest with other cases. This will ensure that they can represent you properly and give you the best possible outcome.
Look for a Proactive Attorney
A proactive attorney will take the initiative. They will aggressively pursue anything you bring them and will not wait for you to tell them what to do.
You want an attorney that will be proactive and not reactive because the latter can be costly in the long run. A proactive attorney can save you time, money, and stress by getting things done faster and more efficiently than a reactive one would.
Check for Cultural Fit
A good attorney should be someone you can relate to.
The two of you should have similar values and opinions so that the relationship does not become strained in the future. You also want an attorney who understands your culture and can communicate effectively with you.
Look for someone who is easy to talk to, makes you feel comfortable, and understands you and your business.
Schedule a Consultation
Once you have a list of potential attorneys, schedule a consultation with each one. This is an opportunity for you to meet face-to-face with your potential lawyers and discuss your goals.
You should be able to see if you have a good rapport with them and if they can help you achieve your goals. If you do not feel like a good connection has been made, then it is probably best for you to move on.
Review the Attorney’s Contract
After you have met with each potential lawyer and decided on one that best suits your needs, review their contract.
This document will outline all the services they will provide, as well as how much it will cost you. You must be comfortable with the terms of the contract and feel confident that they will represent you well.
If there are any terms or fees that you do not understand, ask the lawyer to explain them in more detail.
Use These Tips to Pick a Business Attorney
Choosing a business attorney can seem like a daunting task.
There are so many options out there, and it’s hard to know where to begin. The above tips can help you narrow your search and pick a business attorney for your business.
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