If you run a business, there are two professionals that you will need at some point: an accountant and an attorney. Getting an account could be a requirement from the onset because the finances of the business will need to be accounted for. The same could be said of an attorney, especially when you’re starting from the ground up. You’ll need someone to help you register the company and draft contract documents. It is therefore important that you’re looking for a business attorney early on. There are some tips that will come in handy when searching for a business lawyer and we’re going to highlight some of them.
Contracts
For a business, you’ll find that you have to draft or sign a lot of contractors. There are legal technicalities that will need to be squared out hence the need to work with an attorney. Even if everything seems straightforward, this law office reports that you should let your attorney go through the documents. Just a simple line in the contract could have severe implications. You don’t want to take chances when your lawyer can help with the review to ensure that everything is clear.
Attitude
A good business attorney is one that is not only concerned about the money but the quality of legal service. He or she is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that clients are getting a 100% satisfaction guarantee on the service that is being provided. They can even sacrifice their off days to ensure that the needs of the clients are being attended to. Working with a dependable lawyer will always come in handy for your business. You get to grow together as partners.
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is an indispensable skill that a corporate attorney should possess. There are companies that deal with a lot of sensitive information. Small mistakes could be costly. That is why it is vital that the lawyer you’re working with is thorough and pays close attention to detail in everything that they do. You can ask around for references for their work just to be sure that you’re working with the right provider.
Commercial Awareness
The lawyer that you’re working with should be commercially aware. They’ll not just be providing legal services but should see the picture in terms of where you’d want your business to be. They should not just be focused on the law because businesses might require that they do a lot more. There are occasions where the attorney can help with contract negotiations for business mergers. Such a job will require commercial awareness which isn’t something that is taught in law school.
Flexible Billing
There are attorneys that will charge by the hour while there are those that will charge a flat fee. It will depend on the initial arrangement that you had with the lawyer. Since you could be walking with the individual, it will be in your best interest that they provide flexible billing. They should be able to understand that you’re a business and there could be issues with cash flow. For routine matters, you should expect a flat-rate fee. You can always negotiate for services on a need basis.
Clients in the Same Industry
It will be easy to work with an attorney that already has clients in the same industry that you’re in. This makes it easy for them to serve you better. It should not be a deal-breaker because there are attorneys that will be willing to learn the ins and outs of your business so that you’re getting the best legal service.
Good Teacher
The attorney that you’ve hired should be able to take their time to educate you and the employees on the legal situation of your business. They can also consult on the course of action to take in case you find yourself in a legal dilemma that could have far-reaching consequences for your business.
Available
Working with a reliable attorney will prove to be beneficial to your business. There will be peace of mind knowing that there is someone that you can easily reach out to for all the legal issues involving your business.
Conclusion
You should get an attorney that you can easily get along with. That is why the initial consultation meeting is important. Have a list of questions that you’d want to ask the lawyer. Don’t ignore your instincts. It is also important that you’re finding an attorney who is conveniently located for better service.
