Chances are that you will face legal problems as a business owner. In these cases, you will need to talk to a lawyer.
Many types of business law exist. Its diversity reflects many factors that are involved in running a business.
Sometimes businesses need to deal with legal issues. “In the vast bulk of disputes between businesses, you would want to hire a lawyer,” says Georgia business litigator Benjamin I. Fink.
A lawyer can also help with non-litigation issues. For example,
- An entrepreneur seeking investors for a startup
- The creation of a business strategy
- You are interested in purchasing real estate to help your business.
- Establishing policies and procedures that employees can follow
- Signing a contract with another company
These are all instances where legal counsel is a great help and can even prevent litigation from happening in the future.
What are the Different Types of Lawyers?
There are many kinds of lawyers. There are criminal defense lawyers who represent individuals accused of committing crimes. However, some civil lawyers can help clients with many areas of civil legal.
Even in business law, there are several areas of specialization. It is a great advantage for business owners to have a wide range of specialists and lawyers. That means that a lawyer can solve any legal issue.
A business may need to meet any legal requirements throughout its existence.
- Business formation documentation
- Contract Disputes
- Breach of fiduciary responsibility, including conflicts of interest
- Infringement by intellectual property right
- Employment issues
- Real estate transactions and zoning questions with local municipalities
- Personal injury and product liability cases
These and other issues can be difficult for businesses. A lawyer will help make the process more efficient and ensure you get the best outcome possible.
What Are the Essential Qualities of a Good Lawyer in Your Case?
It is vital to find a reasonable business attorney. What should I look for?
There are some basic requirements that you need to ensure a lawyer meets.
- They are a recent graduate of an American Bar Association-accredited law school
- They are licensed to practice law in your area.
These are only the basics. Consider the experience and areas of practice of your potential lawyer.
Most lawyers will post a brief bio or summary about their experiences on their website or in their Super Lawyers directory. Consider:
- How many years have they been in business law practice?
- What kind of clients/businesses do they usually represent (small businesses or large corporations)
- Do they have expertise in a particular field or deal with many of the same issues?
- Do they have experience with other areas of law?
- What is their track record like?
- Are they large or small businesses? (Do you have preferences about the size of the firm)
Another source of information you may consider is online reviews about the lawyer/law firm or the lawyer’s social media profiles.
How they charge their attorney fees is another factor you should consider when deciding whether a lawyer is suitable to represent you. You will be charged different prices depending on what type of case or work the lawyer is working on.
It’s helpful to be aware of the following:
- Retainer Fee. In its simplest form, a retainer fee is money paid by a lawyer to guarantee their legal services. There are two types.
- General Retainer. This is money to ensure a lawyer is available to provide legal services. The lawyer will be there for you regardless of whether or not you have a particular legal issue. Retainers are used to cover routine or recurring legal work for businesses.
- Retainer special. This is where a client pays an attorney ahead of time for specific services. The lawyer subtracts their expenses from this amount as they work.
- Flat fee. This is when the client pays a one-time upfront fee to their lawyer for their legal service. This may be used to prepare, for example, a legal document.
- Contingency fees. A contingency agreement is when a lawyer’s payment is dependent (or is “contingent”) on the client’s success in their case. There are no upfront fees. The lawyer is paid a percentage of the client’s damages if the client wins.
- Hourly charges. This means that the lawyer charges per hour for their legal service.
How Do I Find a Lawyer
There are many ways you can find a reasonable attorney. The best way to find a good lawyer is probably the “all of them” approach.
You might know of a great lawyer in your area through a trusted friend. These connections are precious.
Call local lawyers in your area to find out if they offer free consultations. You may also look at the listings of local lawyers by your state bar association.
The Directory is a great place to search for experienced and qualified lawyers.
Questions For a Business Attorney
A business lawyer can help you with any legal problem you may be facing, regardless of whether you are a small or large business owner.
Legal counsel will help you decide the best course of action if the matter doesn’t go to court.
Many business lawyers offer free consultations to help you get legal advice.
Asking informed questions will help you get the most out of a consultation.
- What are the fees and billing options of your attorney?
- What are your strengths?
- What is your offer of legal services, and what are you offering?
- What are the steps to the litigation process?
- How quickly can I get my legal matter resolved?
Once you’ve met with a lawyer to answer your questions, you can start an attorney-client partnership.