Hiring a lawyer is like hiring any member of your business team. You want to make sure that you are hiring the right one. Until you find the perfect fit, you can’t stop looking for the right one. And because asking questions can be one way of finding out more about the lawyer you can work with, it is important that you ask them the right ones.
Their answers to your questions will give you a hint of the kind of relationship you will be able to build with them. Moreover, the solutions will allow you to discover what their strengths are and how they can help you in your business. Here are some questions you might like to ask:
- Do you have experience in dealing with business law?
Do you think this issue is too straightforward? That’s the only way you should be when dealing with a potential lawyer. Do not be afraid to ask them about their legal experience in the business. If you want to put up a corporation, be sure to ask the lawyer if he has had the experience of handling one. Unless he has, he might not be a good fit.
- Do you have your connections?
The lawyer to hire should be like your business internist. He must be able to deal with the problems of the company internally. However, he should have the connections or referrals in case you might need an industry expert. No lawyer can be a total expert in one industry. The goal is to you find yourself an attorney that has the sufficient familiarity with the law required in running your business, or you find one who knows the right legal experts to ask help from.
- Do you cater to other clients within my company industry?
The attorney to hire should be familiar with the specifics of the nature of your business. If not, he should, at least, be willing to learn. Be wary of those lawyers who represent more than one competitor in the industry. While the legal code may require him not to divulge any client information, you don’t want to risk a leak of sensitive information, especially not to your competitor.
- Can you teach me?
A good attorney is someone who can do things for you, but should also be someone who is willing to show you how things are done. They must be prepared to educate you about the legal environment concerning your business. When you’ve got questions about how the specifics of the company laws, your attorney should be able to explain to you how it works for your business.
Hire a lawyer that will be able to give you straight answers to all these questions. The more honesty they show, the more trust they earn from you. Don’t be afraid to ask. After all, these issues will enable you to find the right person to help you succeed in your business.