How To Pick A Lawyer For Your Business
by Violet Bontecou
http://www.fzlawyer.com
There are a number of questions you should ask yourself when
you're dealing with a legal issue and are ready to hire a
lawyer. Before you page through the phone book, or sign a
contract for representation, ask yourself the following
questions:
A lawyer who knows your field, who has worked with others
who own the same kind of business, who knows what you need
to know is an invaluable asset to your company. He can help
you safeguard your company's assets, protect yourself in the
event of liability, keep you informed of your rights and
responsibilities under the law and help you settle any
misunderstandings that arise. Knowing all that, would you
hire just anyone?
Choosing a lawyer that's the right lawyer to handle your
legal issue can be intimidating. How do you know which one
will work with your interests at heart? How do you find a
lawyer who specializes in contract law? Where do you go to
find out how good the lawyer you're considering is?
What do you do when you decide to buy a new car? Most folks
start by asking friends who've driven the kind of car they
want what they think. After they get a few recommendations,
they research the car a bit through dealers and something
like Vehix.com, and if they find something they like, they
take a ride down to the local dealer to kick the tires and
take the car for a spin. If everything seems okay, and the
price is right, and they like the looks of the car, then and
only then do they sign on the dotted line.
Apply the same principles to finding a lawyer for your small
business. Ask around to friends in the same business for
recommendations and names, then take your search to the
local phone book and online. When you've gathered a list of
likely names, hit the Vehix.com for lawyers - Lawyers.com.
There, you'll find short bios of most lawyers, along with
their educational credentials, their practicing specialties
and confidential comments from their colleagues. What you
find will help you narrow your list.
Take your short list and call each lawyer on it. Set up an
appointment to go down and kick your prospective lawyer's
tires. It can be intimidating, but keep in mind that you are
hiring someone to whom you'll be trusting your business and
its welfare. You are paying him - he's not doing you a favor
by seeing you. Don't be afraid to ask hard questions and
expect answers. At the very least, the lawyer you're
interviewing should be able to answer for you:
Call each lawyer on your list to set up an initial
consultation. Be prepared with a list of questions to help
you determine if this lawyer has the skills and expertise
that you need. You'll want to ask about his or her
experience and most current experience with your type of
case or situation, his fee structure, and any special
concerns that you might have.
What sort of unexpected problems might I run into in this
business? How can you help me avoid them? You're not looking
for free legal advice here, and don't expect specific
answers, but a good, reputable lawyer can give you some
general idea of the types of problems you might encounter
and ways that a lawyer can help you.
How do you structure your fees? Who else will be working on
my case? When you hire a lawyer, you're hiring his office.
You should know if paralegals or law clerks will be helping
to compile your case, and pay accordingly.
In the end, choosing a lawyer is no different than hiring
any other professional to do work for you. Get referrals,
check references, do personal interviews, and hire the one
that you believe can do the job the best.
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