What Factors Should I Consider In Researching Outside Counsel For My New Business?

One of the important factors to consider is the practice area that a lawyer performs in more often than not. We see a lot of situations where lawyers practice in 10 different areas and we find it somewhat difficult to imagine a lawyer really being able to be truly proficient in so many practice areas, especially with how specialized things have become. When someone goes to a doctor, they may go to their general practitioner if they have a basic issue but if it’s something more specific, they go to someone who is more specialized in that particular area. We advise clients to do the same with their legal representation.

We may not be the right resource for many clients. If they have an immigration issue, we have someone we’ll refer them to. If they have a complicated real estate issue, we have someone else that we refer them to for that. There might have to be several different lawyers involved throughout the lifetime of a business, who may have different specialties that they bring to the table.

Another factor is considering referrals or reviews to identify the quality of work that the lawyer has done in the past. We certainly advise our clients to look at those things as well before hiring a new lawyer.

What Kind Of Small Business Issues Should An Owner Be Able To Handle On Their Own Without An Attorney?

Everything from dealing with marketing and sales to overseeing employees are typically decisions that should be made by the business owner. When it comes to compliance with employment laws or agreements with vendors, those are things that they should probably have a lawyer look at. There are certainly many aspects that business owners can handle themselves or have other types of professionals handle.

Does Every Business Need An Attorney? How Do I Know If I Do?

There are small businesses today that are just the business owner working out of their home. They’re not leasing equipment or employing anyone. An attorney may not be something that they need. If it’s a more traditional business that has employees and is going to lease land, enter into agreements, or have partners, they should at a minimum talk to a lawyer.

Does Your Firm Work With A Set Retainer With Clients Or On An As Needed Basis?

For most of our clients, we work on an as-needed basis. We don’t have any clients who are on a set retainer or pay a monthly fee. If they have needs, from a lawsuit to a simple question, they can call us on an as-needed basis.

What Type Of Things Can I Prevent By Proactively Hiring a Lawyer For My Business?

Whenever there are proactive legal resources, like updated employment practices spelled out in an employee handbook, it is going to minimize a lot of potential employment issues. Any time there is any agreement or contract, making sure a lawyer reviews it before it’s entered into will mean that they can spot issues and determine whether the language might create problems in the future. Our preference is to be more proactive with clients and get them to engage us before a problem arises. We find that, more often than not, we can minimize the risk of future issues.

For more information on Researching Outside Business Counsel, a case evaluation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (281) 277-3066 today.