How to Find a Good Business Law Attorney

Whether your business is small or growing, you may have the need for some legal services. Perhaps you want to incorporate. Maybe you need help drawing up contracts for your customers or vendors. You may even need strategic advice on how to plan your tax year. These are all major concerns that will help to determine whether your business sinks or swims. The good news is that you can find these legal services by hiring a good business law attorney who can ensure that your company is on the right track. More than that, the right lawyer will free up owners and managers to perform the management duties necessary for keeping a company on the track on a day-to-day basis. Here’s a small guide to finding a good business lawyer for your company.

Avoid Myths

You might be tempted to think that all lawyers charge too much and do too little. After all, there is something of a negative perception of lawyers in the public eye. As a business owner, your first step is to recognize that lawyers bring a unique skill set to the table that you might not have. They have the technical knowledge of the law. Beyond that, they have a perspective that is often quite different from that of the business owner. Shake the myths and look for someone who can bring these unique perspectives to the table.

Choose a lawyer who understands your business and industry, and who believes in your vision. You shouldn’t just choose a random lawyer from the phonebook or a search engine. You need to research to find a person who understands your industry and believes in your business’s vision. A lawyer well-versed in oil and gas contracting will be great for an oil exploration company. However, he or she might not be the one for you if you’re looking to start a chain of smoothie stores. Try to find someone who has a passion for your industry and a knowledge of the inner workings of your business. This will help the attorney bring specialized knowledge to the table. It will also help to create synergy between you and the lawyer, cutting down on lag time.

Take advantage of consultations

Many good business lawyers will offer a free consultation to small business owners like you. It pays to take advantage of this. In addition to going into the meeting and talking, you need to be listening. This is your opportunity to get a good feel for the lawyer that you’re choosing. Lay out your business’s situation and let the attorney provide his take. During this process, you will get a feel for the communication dynamic between you and this attorney. You can also take some of the information provided and apply it in your business. Do more listening than talking during this consultation so that you can walk away with a good sense of the lawyer’s strengths and weaknesses.

Value matters when choosing a lawyer

Just as you would want the best price when negotiating for some critical supply in your business, you should want the best price when choosing a lawyer. Take a hard look at what your lawyer is willing to provide. Also, check out law firms that can provide you with a flexible billing plan. Some will charge an hourly rate. Others will work on contingency basis if you’re planning on going through litigation. Many attorneys will work with you to come up with a creative plan that works for your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask about billing. Choose the attorney whose billing plan and price work for your business budget.

Can you work closely with this lawyer?

As a small business owner, you need to be able to trust every person on your team. While a lawyer might not work for you, he will work with you. Ask yourself the critical question of whether or not you can trust this lawyer. Can you trust that he will return your calls promptly? Can you trust that he is telling you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear? If you can answer yes to these questions, then the lawyer in question might be right for you.