Finding a Good Business Lawyer

With so many lawyers running around these days, you'd think it would be easy to find a great one. Unfortunately, a surplus of trained legal professionals doesn't mean they all have the expertise you need. I recommend starting with referrals from accountants, bankers, successful small business owners, and trusted friends. Bar associations offer referral services as well, but they don't tell you much about the lawyer — just that he or she is a member of the bar.

Once you've compiled a list of candidates, use the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory to narrow your selection. The easiest way to access the directory is through Lawyers.com. The site lists most practicing lawyers and offers brief biographical sketches, including information about their experience and specialties.

Of course, you don't want to make your final decision without a face-to-face meeting. A consultation will give you a chance to explain your matter and gather information about the attorney. And it will give the lawyer the opportunity to decide whether he or she wants to take you on as a client.

Don't be shy during the meeting. Ask as many questions as you consider necessary to evaluate the lawyer. The more you know up-front, the fewer surprises you'll get down the road. The following list of questions is a good starting point for your initial meeting or consultation.

1. What kind of background or experience do you have in this area? Your attorney should either be a specialist or have significant experience representing start-up companies.

2. How many matters like mine have you handled in the past year or two? An attorney who hasn't recently handled a similar case or problem may not know about pertinent developments.

3. Who else in your firm would work on my case? Attorneys often assign tasks to junior attorneys or paralegals. Make sure you're paying less if that is the case.

4. What's your fee structure, and how often will I be billed? Make sure you understand your lawyer's fee system, which will vary depending on the matter or case. Attorneys typically send clients monthly statements, and you'll want to see periodic bills to keep an eye on your costs.

5. How will you keep me informed of any developments? Attorneys are busy, but you want to make sure the attorney is respectful of your need for information and will be available to answer questions.

6. Do you represent any of my company's competitors? Make sure the lawyer has done a conflicts check.

7. What's your attitude toward alternative dispute resolution (mediation or arbitration)? Lawyers have biases about which techniques are most effective, but one who doesn't believe in them at all is suspect.

If all goes well at your initial meeting, your next step is to check their references. Ask for references from similar small business owners. Call references, and ask them to convince you that the lawyer will do a good job for your company. If you're not convinced, keep looking.

Copyright by Richard D. Harroch. All Rights Reserved.