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7 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Business Attorney
At one point or another, every business needs to represent itself legally or handle some sort of court proceeding. When that time comes, you don’t want to be scrambling to choose an attorney at the last minute, as your selection will probably be rushed for the sake of getting the issue resolved as quickly as possible.
When you’re operating based on a panicked need instead of patiently and thoroughly comparing prospective attorneys, that’s when you’re prone to making rash decisions. Ultimately, you’ll be more likely to choose an attorney that is an optimal match for your company when you’re more informed about what to look for in a business attorney. With that said, here are seven factors to consider when choosing a go-to attorney for your business:
1. Achievements and Credentials
Any attorney can tell you that they’re the best person for the job, but their portfolio is what you really want to look at. A strong history of successful cases and a long list of achievements are usually good signs that you’re dealing with a prestigious expert. Beyond the accolades that are readily apparent on the attorney’s website or social media profiles, you can also find press releases related to their accomplishments by typing the attorney’s name followed by the terms, “achievement” or “award.” Alternatively, you can check out curated lists from organizations like America’s Top 100 Attorneys – you can learn more here about them and their lifetime achievement awards.
2. Determine Which Type of Attorney You Need
Having a one-size-fits-all attorney on standby is not necessarily a bad thing. However, when you need someone with a certain set of skills and experience to represent your business during litigation procedures, you’ll want a specialist who is familiar with industry-specific processes and requirements. Thus, other than keeping an eye out for awards and other accolades, determining which type of attorney you should have on-call will be the second most important factor to consider. When it comes to legal issues related to employment, hiring the best employment lawyer NYC would be very beneficial in representing your business and they can also guide you on how to prevent future lawsuits.
3. Look for an Attorney that Specializes in Your Niche
Once you know what kind of attorney you need, try to get even more specific about the work experience of your prospective attorneys. Have they represented clients in your exact niche before? Can they help you prepare and interpret documentation that revolves around an uncommon lexicon specific to your niche? In essence, you shouldn’t have to explain your business model and what you might need to your attorney. In fact, a competent attorney should already be somewhat familiar with how your business works and what you may require as soon as you tell them what kind of business you operate.
4. Choose an Appropriately Sized Firm
Choosing the largest law firm isn’t always the best choice. Sometimes, small or medium-sized firms can provide a more personalized approach at a more budget-friendly cost. Larger firms are typically busy with many clients and some would even say that high business volume makes a firm less likely to value each client individually. In other words, a major firm may not even care if you decide not to utilize their services any more, whereas a smaller firm or independent attorney will be more likely to accommodate your needs without hesitation in order to keep you as a client. Still, if budget and responsiveness aren’t your highest priorities, larger firms can be ideal for companies that need reliable guidance or on-call legal services.
5. Additional Social Perks and Skills
Let’s face it: legal services aren’t necessarily cheap. Thus, it makes sense that you should take steps to get the most for your money. Look for attorneys that are members of trade groups or other associations. Also look for an attorney who has an extensive social network that they might be able to leverage in times of legal need. Some law firms will even provide webinars, live networking events, and other online resources to keep clients informed and in touch.
6. Fee Structure and Billing
Sooner or later, price has to come into play during any comparison of a professional service. Most attorneys will bill you by the hour for their services, but some have begun to charge set amounts for predefined service packages. If they charge an hourly rate, you may need to deal with them for a little while to get a feel for how they bill for their time. Some attorneys are more generous than others in terms of the minimum time they will bill you for. One lawyer might nickel and dime you and charge a minimum of an hour for every single consultation or inquiry, while another may charge as little as 10% of an hour’s rate for short discussions.
7. Friendliness and Support Quality
Finally, don’t forget to take the attorney’s personality into consideration. After all, you don’t want to be dealing with someone who is hard to get along with, as you’ll be entrusting the fate of your business with this individual. Likewise, the firm that the attorney works with should have solid customer support and you should always be able to easily reach someone.
Choosing a Lawyer That Will Do the Job Right
There are plenty of lawyers who will come running to assist you with any business problem you may have, but not all of them will provide the same level of service and expertise. In fact, many attorneys rely on the fact that most clients don’t take the time to do their own due diligence in order to do the least amount of work possible per case. Look for a lawyer who has the “win or nothing” mentality.
You’ll often see law firms promising that they take no compensation unless your case is successful, and some will even take cases pro bono – with no money upfront – if you have a worthwhile case that will probably go in your favor. Regardless of which attorney you decide to hire, it’s always best to participate in an initial consultation as soon as you feel you might be facing court proceedings of any kind.
Business Programs
Thanks for telling me that one should always consider the attorney’s personality before hiring them. My friend is worried about hiring employees for the startup company they’re planning to have, so it might be better if they’d work with an attorney. I just hope that they’ll be employers who would comply with employment laws all the time.
I’m glad you talked about how it’s essential to hire a lawyer with the right credentials for your business’s legal needs. Last week, I met with an old friend and mentioned he’s looking into starting a trucking company. It’ll be a family-owned business, but he’s not familiar with any of the legal issues it could bring. That’s why I suggested he should get a lawyer to help him out, and with your information, I’m sure he’ll find a good one in no time. I appreciate you helping me learn what to look for in a business attorney.
Great blog! Yes, Customer satisfaction is very important. I agree with you that If you provide excellent service then it will leave a mark. If your customer is not satisfied with your products or services you can’t grow your business.
I appreciate your tips on choosing the right business attorney. It was great to learn that you suggest checking the credentials of potential attorneys. I think it would also be a good idea to look into their reputation.
Absolutely correct! There are plenty of lawyers who will come running to assist you with any business problem you may have, but not all of them will provide the same level of service and expertise so having an experienced and knowledgeable Business lawyer on your side can be invaluable in protecting your interests and helping you reach your goals. It’s important to take time to consider the many factors that go into selecting the right attorney for your needs.