The top question to ask before hiring a business lawyer
Some consider hiring a lawyer as easy as it sounds. As a result, they believe that all they have to do is look for professionals online and only hire them – preferably in place.
While many people actually do it, this is not good practice, and may even damage your company or business. Why? Because business lawyers are someone who handles sensitive legal information related to your company. If they don’t handle it properly, you will be the person who faces the consequences.
Therefore, professional law firms, such as Russel companies, interact, more than usual, with their potential clients. Business lawyers are employed only when they show the confidence and professionalism needed for the job – and when they provide the right answer to the following questions:
How experienced you in the field of activities or my special industry?
Business lawyers know a lot about how business works and must work, but they also have varying expertise and experience. Each lawyer may have more experience in certain industries, rather than at the general level.
Naturally, you have to rent suitable for your special industry, as well as for the problem you want to fix. For example, if you have a problem with intellectual property, you can’t waste time with a more lawyer in the service contract.
How do you usually resolve conflicts?
Usually, business lawyers have their own way to resolve conflicts and, in many cases, the way they might not be in line with the values of your company. However, they may also not be able to resolve conflicts the way you want.
Overall, lawyers must be flexible and willing to change the way their conflict resolution to accommodate you, their clients. If a lawyer appears in many ways to resolve conflicts, then they might be suitable for your business.
Who will, especially, handle my legal issues?
Lawyers are busy people. However, this does not mean that most of your company’s law work must be handled by paralegal or assistant. It is important to determine the amount of time potential lawyers is willing to spend on your business and the problem.
In addition, paralegals can take longer to handle certain things. It translates into more hours that can be billed and, in the end, for a higher cost for something you don’t do.
Do you work with clients who can create conflicts of interest?
Business lawyers will most likely not have problems working with two people who are competitors. However, you – as a client – may have a hard time sharing company information with them, just because you know they work with your competitors.
Able to share information with your lawyers and trust them to keep it a secret, it is very important in terms of running a business. Thus, it’s better if they don’t work for one of your competitors.
How long does it take for you to return to me after a call?
One of the famous lawyers is the amount of time unacceptable they take to return to you, after the call. In most cases, you will talk more to their paralegals than with the actual lawyer – and this is something you want to avoid.
In fact, if it takes more than two days for your lawyer to return to you after you call them with an urgent problem, you should consider changing the lawyer.
Depending on the industry industry, you may need immediate advice and, thus, someone who can provide it.
What is your choice of communication?
Naturally, a lawyer will communicate with you especially by telephone or email. However, some are not involved in communication, unless you scheduled office meetings with them. This is not a loss and may only imply that their services are in high demand.
However, if you feel the need for a more available lawyer, then you have to choose one that doesn’t mind late phone calls, impromptu emails, etc. Office meetings, with strict scheduling plans, maybe counter-productive for your business.
How do you collect or tax?
Depending on the type of lawyer you are looking for, this can be the first or final question that you will ask them. If you are worried about your business funds, you will determine their billing procedure in the first minute.
On the other hand, if you are willing to pay more for experience, for example, then you will wait, and ask this special question later.
However, determining how lawyer bills during the first meeting is very important, because you will avoid tax or surprise costs later!
Are you willing to refer me to another lawyer?
As mentioned above, every lawyer specializes in certain aspects of the industry. So, in some cases, your own lawyer might not be able to help you. If this happens, you have to make sure, instead of trying to fix your own problems, your lawyer will try to refer you to colleagues who can help you and your business.
A good lawyer will never be afraid, or uncertain when it comes to contacting you with people who can help your business.
Underline
Employing a business lawyer is not an easy task. You have to find the right person to take care of your company’s legal issues and, above it, to make themselves available to you, every time you have questions.
Given the sensitive information they have to face, it is without saying that you must always ask the question above, at the first meeting with a lawyer. Failure to do it, will result you find this information later!