What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Business Attorney

Countless entrepreneurs who just started out or are already running a business worry about a lot of things and one of them is whether they need to hire a business attorney. There is this misconception that lawyers charge astronomical rates and since a lot of small businesses don’t have that much or extra capital to pay lawyers.

As a result, these small business owners only hire a lawyer when confronted with a serious legal issue. You certainly don’t need an attorney for every step in your business, however, prevention is still the best course of action. Legal assistance is another cost of the business that can actually save you money and help your business in the long run.

There will be issues that you can handle on your own and there will be issues where you will need the assistance of a business lawyer. Here are a few examples of scenarios where you’ll need one:

• Investigating or filing of complaint/s against your business by local, state or federal government entities.
• Employees, whether former, current or prospective ones suing on the grounds of discrimination or a hostile working environment.
• Your business gets involved in an environmental issue and even if your business isn’t the cause of the environmental problem, you may be penalized.
• Negotiating to sell your company or acquiring another company and its assets.
• You’d want to make an allocation of profits and losses or you’d like to contribute to your partnership or agreement.

You’ll definitely need to get an attorney for the serious issues mentioned but you can also focus on preventing such occurrences from the very start. Consulting with a reputable business attorney wouldn’t hurt.

So what qualities should you look for? Take note of what the potential lawyer says and does and here are a few guidelines you can keep in mind before hiring one:

• Ability to communicate effectively. If the lawyer only speaks in legal terms without bothering to explain what they said or they won’t entertain your inquiries, then you should look for someone else.
• Vast experience. It’s best to find someone who has good expertise in the field they are practicing in, like Steven A. Sugarman. Also, make sure that the lawyer is willing to take on all types of legal problems related that you need help with.
• It is important that you get along with your lawyer. Afterall, they will be the ones representing you legally. You’ll be discussing a lot of things with them, so you should find someone you’re comfortable with.
• Contributes to the business growth. You are looking for someone that is long-term and integral in your business growth. Would they understand what you’d like to happen and do they share your vision?
• Good references. Inquire what types of businesses or cases they have handled in the past. You can also gather a list of clients or other attorneys that you can contact to discuss the competence, services, and fees of the potential lawyer you’d like to hire.

It may be challenging to find that perfect attorney, so make it a point to interview at least a handful of them. Since it’s their job to protect you against any legal issues, you should find one that always has your best interest in mind.