Whether you run a small business or a big one, at some point you are going to need the services of a business lawyer. Some businesses need to hire an attorney in the very beginning, while for others, it can take several years before they feel the need to hire an attorney. Hiring a business lawyer is something that should not be taken lightly. You need to make sure that you are hiring the right man for the job so you can run your business smoothly. A smart businessman always stays in touch with a skilled business attorney so that they can immediately hire them in the hour of need. In this article, I have mentioned a few questions that you need to ask a business lawyer before hiring them. Let’s have a look:
How Much You Charge?
It is always better to get the most important question out of the way in the beginning. Small business owners and startups do not have enough funding to hire expensive lawyers. That is why it is important that you ask the lawyer how much they will be charging in the very beginning. If the price seems high to you, then you can try and negotiate, and if that is not the case, you should move on to another lawyer. It is also important for you to be aware of the average rates, so you don’t pay too much to someone or have unrealistic expectations. Asking about the fee, in the beginning, is the right thing to do because you don’t want to waste time vetting an attorney that is out of your price range. While it is important to manage the expenditure when it comes to hiring an attorney, it is equally important to understand how not to micromanage.
How Much Do They Know About Your Business?
The first and one of the most important questions you need to ask a business lawyer is how much do they know about your business. If a lawyer has good knowledge about your business, then it is highly likely that they will make a strong case for you. If the lawyer is not aware of the nature of your business, then you will just be wasting money. For example, if you are a small software company and the lawyer you have hired is not much familiar with software licensing, then you will just be wasting money on him.
What Kinds of Clients Do They Work With?
The clientele of a business lawyer also speaks volumes about him. When you are hiring an attorney, ask them what kinds of clients they usually work with. Do they work with small businesses regularly, or most of their clients are big companies. This will tell you about the experience of the lawyer and will give you an idea about their fee as well. A lawyer who works with big companies may be expensive, but he will also have better skills and contacts. Big companies are dealing on the legal side more than small businesses, which means that the lawyer will have a lot of hands-on experience as well. If their clients are mostly small businesses, then it’s not a bad thing either. This means that the lawyers know how to handle small businesses legally or in the courtroom.
What Are their Specialties?
It is highly recommended that instead of hiring a general business lawyer, you hire someone who is a specialized person in that field. If the lawyer you are considering does a bit of everything, then you should look for another option. For example, if you are having tax problems, then you should look for a lawyer who only deals with business taxes and nothing else. Similarly, if you are looking for corporate governance, you must hire a lawyer who provides corporate secretarial services.
