How to Hire an Attorney for a New Business

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:HireAttorneyNewBusiness
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How to Hire an Attorney for a New Business

Introduction

Your new business may need to hire an attorney for a number of reasons. You may need to review contracts with new clients, develop employee agreements or fight a lawsuit from a competing company. Like other aspects of your new business, you need to hire an attorney who knows about the process of starting a business and keeping it profitable.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Protect Your Business With the Right Legal Counsel

Steps

1

Step One

Understand the full range of attorneys that are working in your neighborhood. Depending on your legal needs, you may require a specialized attorney for a contract negotiation or an assessment of property you are considering for purchase. You can find an attorney for your needs by utilizing the lawyer locator tool on the American Bar Association website (see Resources below).
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Step Two

Consult with your local law school to receive assistance from advanced law students and faculty. Many law schools have a particular area of legal focus with an accompanying law library and community outreach program. The use of law schools for contracts and property-law issues can save you money in the early stages of your business.
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Step Three

Determine the amount of money your new business can devote to legal fees. You should request the hourly rate and other fees an attorney charges during your initial consultation. You need to find the right balance between legal expertise and available funds.
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Step Four

Ask an attorney about his level of experience with small businesses before you hire him. Most legal issues that arise in running a new business require a skilled legal researcher who is as comfortable in the library as he is in the courtroom.
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Step Five

Arrive at a meeting with your attorney well prepared to ask any legal questions you may have. Read over state and federal regulations regarding zoning, production safety and other issues you will encounter in your new business. A qualified attorney should be able to answer questions and present your legal options to you.
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Step Six

Think about retaining an attorney if you feel that your legal needs will be continuous. Businesses that deal with hazardous materials and extensive transportation often retain lawyers. In such cases, legal fees are often taken out of settlements or favorable court decisions.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • Disclose all aspects of your business to your attorney to get the best advice. Business owners who fail to disclose their business practices, budgets and personnel issues do not give their attorneys the full range of tools required to do their job. The best way to give full disclosure is to comply with your attorney's requests for information.
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