Questions for Hiring the Right Attorney for Your Business

It’s been said that every business should have an attorney and an accountant to provide consulting services and advice from the startup phase on. Unfortunately, many businesses wait to take this advice until it’s too late – until there’s a legal need. To protect your business’s best interests, it’s important to be proactive in this area.

If you’re looking for an attorney to work with your business, consider the following questions.

WHAT’S YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL?

It’s important that you understand your potential attorney’s experience in your industry. Have they worked with businesses like yours – start-ups, franchises, family businesses or something else?

DO YOU WORK WITH OTHERS IN MY INDUSTRY?

This is an important question that varies from asking about experience alone. While it’s important that your attorney be familiar with your industry, and that he or she is willing to learn, it’s also important that he or she does not represent any of your competitors should issues arise in the future.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR AVAILABILITY?

Attorneys are busy and therefore are not available at each client’s beck and call. However, your attorney should be able to let you know how quickly your questions will be answered, if there’s someone in the office available when he or she is not and how far in advance meetings should be scheduled.

DESCRIBE YOUR BILLING PROCESS.

Understanding the billing process and all potential fees that may arise is important from the start. An attorney should be transparent about this and should be able to give you a general idea of how much you will need to pay for services. Some services may have a flat fee, while others may require an hourly rate; make sure you understand the difference.

WHAT WILL YOU NEED FROM ME TO GET STARTED?

An attorney can only do so much without support from his or her clients. This means that some of the responsibility for a positive working relationship starts with you. Ask what documents and information your potential attorney will need from you and be sure to provide it in a timely matter. Understanding the responsibilities of both parties is critical for moving forward.

Once you have asked the necessary questions, consider your own thoughts. Were you comfortable with the attorney? Do you feel as though your questions were adequately answered? Does the attorney’s communication style match your own? Open communication is important for the well-being of your business going forward.

Are you looking to hire an attorney for your business? Call today to set up a consultation with experienced business attorney Michael Hynum of Hynum Law today. We look forward to working with you.