“Pick me! Pick me!” Just kidding. Well, just a little.
Tips on Picking an Attorney for Your Business
Inc.com is one of my favorite websites to learn more about how I can manage and grow my business. One I just read was right up my alley: How to Hire Legal Counsel. It’s got a lot of great tips on picking an attorney for your business, and has a great quote from an experienced entrepreneur Julie Northcutt:
Every entrepreneur should consider how much a bad attorney can cost you in the long run.
Picking a great attorney is a worthwhile investment in your company; it can provide a return 100 times over in the right situation.
The article also highlights the advantages of using a small firm for the newer businesses; says Babak Zafarnia:
At this stage of business growth and development, small firms deliver better professional services, counsel, and representation because you get the principals involved and to stay on top of things.
I think Zafarnia hit the nail on the head; with smaller firms, you’ll find attorneys who will work hands on with you and are serviced oriented.
Many of my clients are small businesses and businesses just getting off the ground, and I enjoy working with the principals one -on-one. Not only do I get to help them with the legal aspects of their business, but I like to bring value to their experience by being a resource for them to network with other entrepreneurs, businesses , and other ideas that might help them achieve success. I believe in life-long learning, so I attend many seminars, legal and business, not only to grow my own business, but to pass those things down onto my clients.
My colleague in the profession, Daniel J. Alexander II, also wrote on his blog Out-House General Counsel about how to pick an attorney for your business. One common element in both of these articles was to ask for references:
Ask for reference: Another way to find law firm is to ask friends, colleagues and relatives. Especially to those who have experience in seeking legal help from law firms. But make sure that reference they provide match with your field of business.
From Inc.com:
Once you’ve defined the parameters of the legal advice you need, you can begin tapping into your professional network to find candidates. “The best place to find counsel is to ask respected entrepreneurs and investors who have had interaction with a half dozen or more lawyers,” says Brian O’Malley, a partner with venture capital firm Battery Ventures. “There is nothing like a working relationship to understand how someone acts in reality.” Others sources of referrals are your accountant and banker.
I analogize looking for an attorney is like looking for a restaurant in a new city: you should be asking for referrals and recommendations. (But I don’t think there are any attorneys on Urban Spoon. But Yelp has some).
Are you a business owner or entrepreneur looking for a new attorney or law firm? If you’ve chosen one, what was your process?
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