When you are still working on getting your business off the ground, you may want to keep the number of employees to a minimum. This includes any work you may need to outsource as well. Thus, you are going to have to think long and hard about hiring a lawyer for your startup.
Now, the first question you may ask yourself is whether you actually need a lawyer. And, if you do require a legal expert, just when should you hire one? Last, but certainly not least, what kind of attorney do you need for your business?
Well, these are all excellent questions. Thus, here is everything you need to know about getting legal assistance for your company:
Know-How an Attorney Can Help Your Business
Before going any further, it is important to understand how a lawyer can help your company. With this insight, you will find it easier to determine whether you should take on such an expert for your organization.
So, what can a lawyer actually do for you? As you can imagine, an attorney can assist with any task or document that has legal ramifications for your company later on. Thus, they can aid you with client contracts, privacy policies, trademarks, and non-disclosure agreements.
At the same time, legal consultants will help you out with any issues that may arise in the future. This includes but isn’t limited to small claims court issues, defamation, and more. Thus, there are several areas that an attorney can benefit your organization.
When Should You Hire an Attorney?
Now, taking into consideration everything a lawyer can do for you, should you hire one from the moment your business gets off? Well, this is entirely up to you, but for the most part, it is unnecessary.
As you can imagine, attorneys can be rather pricey. Due to this, you may want to avoid running to them every time you have to deal with a business partner or a client. Rather, it is best to examine whether or not this is a situation you can handle by yourself.
The best time to call in an attorney is when you are dealing with legal agreements or documents. You should never sign anything or approve any terms or conditions before speaking with your attorney. Keep in mind, when you sign documents or even verbally agree to certain things, it may be a binding promise. This means that it can cause a lot of legal issues later on.
Of course, when in doubt, always hire a lawyer. It is far better to have to pay legal fees than to have to extricate yourself from a compromising position later on. Therefore, try to err on the side of caution.
Hiring the Right Lawyer for Your Startup
The final step of your journey involves hiring the best possible attorney for your startup company. You should be mindful that just because a lawyer has a good reputation, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a suitable fit for your new business.
So, how should you go about selecting such an expert for your startup? Here are some pointers:
Table of Contents
Check Their Credentials
The first thing you should do is to check the lawyer’s credentials. Yes, this can involve finding out what law school they went to and so on. At the same time, you do need to know what kind of testing process they went through to become a lawyer.
Now, you may be aware of the state bar exam as it is better-known. However, this certification has a limitation – attorneys aren’t allowed to practice outside the state where they took this examination. If you are planning on doing business in multiple regions, it’s far better to hire an attorney that has experience with the UBE uniform bar exam review. This way, they can help you regardless of the state you’re working in.
Consider Their Experience
Another thing to pay attention to is how much experience a particular lawyer has. Or, more specifically, how much experience they have in your particular industry. Keep in mind, each business sector is quite different from another. As such, it is important to find someone who knows their way around the industry you happen to be involved in.
This is why it is a good idea to speak with an attorney you would like to hire first and have an earnest conversation. You should get a feel for what kind of legal cases and tasks they have previously handled. In turn, you will be able to determine if they are a good fit for your business.
How Much Representation Can You Expect?
If you hire a smaller firm, you can be certain that all your legal matters will be handled by the top lawyers. When you hire a larger legal agency, though, much of your work may be delegated to newer or younger lawyers. This can have its advantages and disadvantages. Older lawyers are more experienced, but younger lawyers have more time on their hands.
This is why you should know exactly who is representing your company at all times. After all, if you are paying hefty legal fees, you need to have peace of mind knowing that the top legal minds are at work on your behalf. At the very least, you should be able to reach the main lawyers whenever you need them.
Are They a Good Fit?
Lawyers often have their own methods. Some are all about customer service while others only focus on winning. Others offer the best of both worlds. It is your job to determine whether the lawyer is a good fit for your company culture. After all, you need to be represented by someone that has the same values as you.
This should answer all your questions about whether or not you need a lawyer for your startup. Then, it is simply a matter of finding the best possible attorney for your company. Fortunately, you can find this information here too!