Find An Attorney

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.

written by Rich

Reasons An Attorney Is Important

They Know the Drill

Even though you may be completely competent at running
your business, lawyers are trained specifically in the
law and know how to deal with all of the unique
situations you may face. Whether you have a small
business or are looking to incorporate, a lawyer can
tell you what you need to know, when you need to know
it and follow through with their own advice. You won?t
have to go struggling around to find answers to your
law-related questions; rather, you?ll have someone on
hand ready to answer your questions and take action.

They Are Professionals

Even though you may think you know a thing or two
about law, don?t ever think you know more than someone
who went to law school and has trained in it as their
career. Sure, it can even be helpful to the lawyer
that you hire that you know a thing or two about what
you need and why. However, relying on the sound advice
of a pro is the best way to do business.

They Take Care of the Paper Work

You may find throughout your career of running a
business that it takes a lot of paperwork to keep the
company afloat. Regardless of what industry you?re in,
paperwork always plays a role. Now you can always use
a template for your contracts and important documents
but that is certainly not recommended. You should have
contracts drafted by a lawyer so that they can be
customized for your business. A good lawyer can write
and rewrite contracts and other documents so that each
of your clients, or what have you, receive paperwork
that is legally binding and accurate.

They Keep Good Records

If you find you have a hard time keeping track of
everything related to your business, hiring a lawyer
might just be the right choice. While they are not
meant to be your personal organization system, a
lawyer can certainly keep track of all your legal
documents and have them ready for easy reference
should the need arise.

They Can Help You Avoid Trouble

So many people think only about their needs in the
moment rather than in the future as well. While it is
important to concentrate on the task at hand, it is
beneficial for you and your company to think about
what could happen potentially. Legal troubles are
always a possibility with a business and that is why
hiring a lawyer before you run into problems is the
smart thing to do. They can advise you so that you
avoid making decisions that could get you into legal
hot water later on.

They Can Help You Hire Others

As a business you have to think about the people you
are going to hire as employees. For instance, you?ll
want to make sure that your employment contract is
legal and non-offensive. The last thing you?d want to
do is be discriminatory in the paperwork your
employees have to sign! Lawyers can help you dodge
this legal landmine before it goes off!

They Are Available for Consultation

This may seem like a small thing, but there?s nothing
more comforting than knowing you have reliable legal
counsel on hand whenever you need it. If you want to
make a big decision about your company, your lawyer
can guide you in the right direction. Plus, since
they?ve been working with you a long time, they can
provide you with the best advice on the spot.

They?re Up On Financial Matters, Too

Lawyers can help you make great financial decisions
for your business as well. This does not mean that
they will replace your accountant or other financial
advisors, but a lawyer can give you the legal advice
you need. Another great benefit of a lawyer is that
they can help you sort out everything you need to do
in order to put your business up for sale and make the
necessary financial arrangements.

So now that you know a few of the ways lawyers are a
fantastic addition to your business, we can move onto
more important things like deciding on the type of
lawyer you need.

written by Rich

Things You Will Benefit From Doing Yourself

While you hire a lawyer to take care of the legal
matters you don?t know how to handle, you are not
completely useless when it comes to the law. In fact,
you can play a big role in the legal aspects of your
company with great benefit to you.

One-On-One Legal Training

While you may not think so, having a lawyer is like
having your very own personal law trainer. Now this
doesn?t mean that you can bug them every single day
with every single question you may have. It does mean
that you can utilize their knowledge for your benefit.
If you actively attempt to learn what they do for your
company, you?ll reap the rewards.

Gain a Better Understanding of Your Business

All good business decisions are founded in good legal
decisions. If you are able to understand why your
lawyer advises a certain legal move, you?ll understand
how to better run your company, and who doesn?t want
to be a better businessperson?

Save Money

If you have your lawyer complete every little legal
thing for your business, you?ll run up a serious tab.
Not to mention, that money could be spent in other
areas such as marketing or product development that,
in the long run, would be more beneficial to the
growth of your company. By stepping out and doing some
of the legal work on your own, you save some
significant cash.

How You Can Become Involved

Doing some of your own legal footwork is not all that
hard if you know what do to and how you can become an
active participant of your lawyer-client relationship.
Here are some ways you can do some work on your own:

Write Your Own Contracts

I know what you?re thinking. ?Why did I hire a lawyer
if I?m just going to write contracts myself?? The
answer is simple. The lawyer in these cases should act
as a person to run your contract by to ensure it is
accurate and legally binding. You can easily find
sample contracts online in legal speak and all. Once
you?re done drafting the contract, send it over to
your lawyer with a note about what it is for. They?ll
look it over and you?ll save a lot of money. All
they?re doing is proofreading, which means a lot less
billable hours.

Research Your Legal Decisions.

While your lawyer may be a well of information, you
may be charged for each discussion you have, and
spending hours having something explained to you is
really not worth it if the information is available
elsewhere. A good rule of thumb is if the
clarifications are general and can be found easily,
such as on the internet, don?t use your lawyer. Spend
some time at home or at the office researching these
legal issues so you have a greater understanding of
the situation and so you can save money.

Maintain Control

This is your business we?re talking about here. Even
though the lawyer is the legal expert, what you say
ultimately goes. That?s why taking control of some
legal aspects or at the least assisting, is vital. You
should have a clear understanding of what is going on
with all parts of your company. By digging in your
heels and exerting your authority when necessary, you
keep control of your business and allow your lawyer
the opportunity to fully understand your goals.
Essentially, you need to think of your lawyer as an
advisor. Only you can make the big decisions.
When to Back Off

As with everything in life, there are exceptions to
the rule. Most of the time, you can benefit greatly
from pitching in your own time and effort into your
legal affairs. However, sometimes it?s better if you
leave it to the professionals.

You should take a step back and stay out of the fire
when:

- You are being convicted of a serious crime.
- The lawyer vehemently believes your opinion is a bad
choice for your company.
- You have specifically sought out a lawyer?s advice
on a matter.
- You don?t understand the law.

These are just a few of the instances in which doing
legal work on your own is a bad idea, but enough with
the negativity. Let?s learn how to save money on your
legal fees!

written by Rich