Small Business Management: Hiring An Attorney, Part 1

Once you’ve started a small business, one of the first things you’ll need to do is consider your legal issues. There will be obvious and not-so-obvious reasons to hire an attorney, and for some small business owners, the need may never have taken place before. So as you ponder any legal needs of your small business, there are several important areas to examine. In this series we’ll take a look at things to consider when hiring an attorney, as well as the skills to look for, and various payment factors involved.

As a small business owner, there are basic things to know regarding the process of hiring a lawyer:

• Your business will most likely need a competent business attorney for most aspects of your company, whether it’s for basic zoning compliance, copyright or trademark advice, or formal business incorporation assistance.
• You will need to hire a lawyer before you actually need one. Unfortunately, many small business owners only think about getting legal help when things are going badly. But what if you get sued, legitimately or not, or you get served with a summons or complaint? You need to have found a competent and compatible attorney for your business needs well before this happens. It may seem daunting, or very expensive, but having one that is familiar with you and your business upfront is much more cost-effective than scrambling around for one when you’re desperate.
• Consider your options and do research. There are lots of choices out there when it comes to finding legal representation, and it’s confusing to most of us. There are pros and cons for choosing a larger or smaller firm. Larger firms usually cost more, but they also can carry expansive services and strong reputations to go with it. Smaller firms can offer more personalized services, lower rates and specialized skills. Ask other business owners in your field about the legal services they use, and find a match that's right for your needs.

In the next part of this series we’ll examine the types of attorneys there are and which kind might be right for you.