Seven Tips To Hire The Best Business Lawyer

Posted by Alex John on February 15th, 2020

Every business needs an attorney at some point in their life cycle. An attorney might be needed to carry out routine legal work or for some specific legal issue that may arise. Finding a lawyer is not a difficult task, but finding a good lawyer whom you can afford and who suits your legal needs perfectly requires a lot of homework to be done. Setting up business in India requires a lot of legal paperwork, so you might need one at the time of inception. He/she will help you in company formation. For first-time business owners, it is all the more important to hire an attorney at the beginning to assist in completing all legal formalities.

There have been instances where people did not do enough research or homework before hiring an attorney and ended up regretting their decision. So, it is vitally important that you do your homework properly before you hire an attorney for your business. Discussed below are some tips on hiring a business lawyer.

Take Advice from People You Know

The first thing to do is to ask for recommendations from people you know, people who have had the experience of hiring an attorney in the past. The best way to scout for a business attorney is to get first-hand appraisal reports from people you know and trust. Also, if you are regular on social media, you can seek recommendations from your followers and group members.

Reviewing Social Media Profiles

Another way to know about the credentials of a lawyer is to review their social media profiles. This is a digital world that we live in, and everybody is embracing technology to further their personal and professional interests. Check their social media profiles, especially on the business and profession oriented ones, such as Linked In. Read the testimonials and recommendations of other users. Try to find out if they write any blogs on any platform and read them. This is a great way to get insights into the knowledge and experience of an attorney.

Talking to Law Firms

When you contact a top legal firms in India, make sure to speak to the attorney who would be working with you. For instance, a senior member of the firm might be available for initial consultations, but may not be always available to serve your needs. So make sure that the person you interact with is always involved with you. Also, do not get enticed by the reputation of large law firms. They serve hundreds of clients and charge a hefty fee. There would be many big clients from whom they earn the majority of their income; you may not get the priority and attention that your business needs. So make your choice based on your requirements and affordability.

Ask Questions 

One of the common mistakes people commit while looking for an attorney is to contact a firm and straight away ask for their fee for a particular service. A good attorney will never quote a fee until they get to know about your problem. Once they fully understand your situation they will advise you on what is needed to be done, instead of just quoting a price for whatever service you ask for. So do not hesitate to ask hard questions to learn more about the lawyer’s knowledge and understanding of your situation. Satisfy yourself before you decide to hire.

Find the Right Business Attorney

You don’t go to business attorney just to get legal documents prepared. An attorney shouldn’t wait for you to ask questions before they offer anything, instead, they should be proactive enough to ask you questions about your situation and offer solutions accordingly. You should look for a lawyer who truly understands your business, can anticipate future problems that may arise, and also has the ability to recognize opportunities.

Also, do not go to a general business lawyer for specific business issue. For example, trademark and copyright related issues can be best handled by an intellectual property lawyer. There are different specialized areas of business law, and there are different experts to cater to each of them. Make sure that you choose the right lawyer.

Find a Business Lawyer with a Long Term Perspective

 A business lawyer is an important member of your core team. Look for someone you can trust and build a long term relationship with. The lawyer should be a person with whom you can candidly discuss all your legal matters. He/she shouldn’t be someone who frequently uses legal jargon making it difficult for you to understand. Instead, the attorney should be able to explain complex legal issues in simple language that is easy to understand.

Discuss the Fee

Finally, the most important part of your search is to discuss the fee structure. As a business owner, you have probably set a budget for hiring an attorney, so it is very important to have clarity and transparency in pricing. Hire an attorney whom you can afford and is within your allocated budget.

Setting up a business in India is a cumbersome process, and you need to hire the best business lawyer to conform to the legal requirements.