Interviewing An Attorney

You want to meet with an attorney so you can decide
whether he or she is the right match for your business
before you decide to hire him or her.

Here?s another wonderful update from Lawyer Up. To
show you what this wonderful new attorney manual has
to offer, let me give you an excerpt of an actual page
from this course.

When you meet with an attorney for the first time,
make sure you have a list of questions prepared so you
don?t forget anything. Your list might look something
like the following:

Do You Have Any References?

This one is so important, it had to come first.
Lawyers talk for a living, so they can surely convince
you their services are needed, but hearing first hand
from someone else how great they are and what they did
for their business is a sure selling point. Don?t ever
hire a lawyer without a reference or two.

How Long Have You Been Practicing?

While a young, enthusiastic lawyer can be great, it is
usually your best bet to go where the experience lies.
You want someone that has been in practice several
years, has been an attorney for other businesses and
understands the unique needs of your company. Don?t
settle for anything less.

What Are Your Areas of Specialization?

Some lawyers operate a general practice, while others
specialize in one or two particular areas of law. You
will most likely want a business lawyer that either
deals with transactional matters or litigation
matters. You can sometimes find business attorneys
that deal with both types of business law. This may
even be better for you as you?ll have someone to take
care of your everyday needs and litigation issues
should they ever arise.

Do You Have Specific Experience Related To What I
Need?

Now this does not mean that the lawyer has to have
represented a business exactly like yours before.
Think generally in regards to business type
(corporate, retail, sole-proprietor, etc) but specific
when it comes to services. Did he or she draft
contracts? Did they represent a business in court?
Regardless of your needs, make sure this lawyer has
done it before.

Have You Ever Found Yourself Subject to Disciplinary
Action?

Just because a lawyer has made a mistake in the past
does not necessarily mean they are unworthy of hiring.
However, it is important you ask this question and
receive an honest response. As a potential client, you
have every right to know why they were brought up on
any malpractice/ethics/disciplinary charges and the
result of these claims. An ambiguous response may be a
sign to move onto the next lawyer on your list.

Be extremely attentive when conducting this interview
to make sure that what answers you are getting really
match with your overall business plans.

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