It can be quite daunting to find the right attorney for our business. Whether we are new to the industry, the issue remains the same, we need a good business lawyer. It is important to work with attorneys who have the right experiences and who are attentive to our business needs. Ultimately, we should ask ourselves a question of whether we should trust the person with our business. There are questions we need to answer and we need to evaluate whether a prospective business lawyer is suitable for our business. First of all, we should check the lawyer’s background.
It goes without saying that we should check the lawyer with the bar association to know whether he is licensed. We will also know whether the lawyer received any major disciplinary action. We should also ask for referrals and find out what’s their practice area. It is a good idea to choose attorneys who spend most of their time practicing commercial and business law. When dealing with the future of our business, we want professionals who can diagnose problems and effectively find solutions. We should ask the lawyer how much they devoted their career to cases related to commercial and business laws.
It is important to know what areas of the business these professionals are specializing in. We need to know how many and what other professional areas do they practice. It is preferable if these areas are complementary to our business requirements. We should asses their knowledge and experience. Lawyers who have the right knowledge and experience of our industry will be able to expand their expertise to help our business. They won’t need to deal with a steep learning curve and can get up to speed on any legal issue that affects our industry. They should be willing to invest their time to understand our legal issues.
We should know that relationship counts! While most of our communication with the lawyer could occur through indirect paths, such as email and phone, it is important to have regular face-to-face meetings. This is an important part of maintaining relationship. We should be aware of lawyers who are unwilling to meet us in person. They could also insist on a “retainer” before the initial meeting about our scope of engagement, particular issues and overall business situations. Personality is a vital factor to know how effective lawyers can be for our business.
It is also important to know that we have to be comfortable with our legal lawyers. They should be able to mesh with our team, managers and executives. They must be a right fit for the job and a true team player. They must be independent people who can objectively review our business and provide an honest, constructive advice. We may work with a lawyer who is outspoken and aggressive, but obviously not combative. Lawyers can be a risk taker or a conservative who know how to take a secure and safe route. Lawyers should also be supportive and sympathetic to our causes.
