Whether a business is defendiing itself against litigation, expanding into a national or international business, or simply carrying on many of the business acitivites that are necessary to keep business going, there are often times when a lawyer’s services are required. But, not all attorneys are created equal. When you set out to find the right one for your business purposes, you need to invest about 2 or 3 weeks in process. Here are some suggestions on how to go about it from About.com.

1. Determine the legal issue and what type of law may be applicable. Such as business incorporation, employee labor law, real estate, buying a company or wills and estates.

2. Assess the type of lawyers dealing with your legal issue.

3. Compile a list of lawyers in the determined subject area by:

4. Talking to friends and business peers for a referral in the legal area you need.

5. Contact other professionals you know such as your banker or accountant.

6. Use a lawyer referral network service located on the Internet, Yellow Pages, or Bar Association.

7. Set up a phone interview with a narrowed down candidate list and ask the following
questions:

8. How long have you been in practice?

9. How much experience do you have in the area of …(subject area you need)? How many
wins have you had in this area?

10. Is this a standard issue with a basic fee or more complex with an hourly fee?

11. Is there a fee for the initial consultation?

12. Review the answers from each phone interview. Make an appointment with a lawyer that
can deal with your legal issue in a timely matter, has an interest in your business and
makes you feel comfortable.

13. Be prepared for your initial interview with complete documentation for your case.

14. If all goes well and you feel the lawyer can best represent your interests and case then
hire them.

Tips:

–Keep full notes on meetings and ask for supporting files or documentation.
–Work with your lawyer in a positive, honest manner.
–Provide your lawyer with what they need in a prompt fashion.

Another tremendous source of information on legal issues in a small business environment is FindLaw.com. According to them, once you find the attorney you want to use, if litigation is going to be involved, here is some information you need to be prepared to provide him/her in the very first interview–

INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

Name ________________________________________________________________

Name of Your Business __________________________________________________

Form of Your Business (corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.) ________________________________________

Place of Doing Business _________________________________________________

Address, including County

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Length of Time at that Address _______ years

Previous Address(es) (for last ten years)

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Your Work Telephone Numbers __________________ ____________________

Your Home Telephone Numbers __________________ ____________________

Facsimile Number __________________

E-mail Address __________________

Web page (if any) __________________

Former Name(s) __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________

Related Business(es) __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________

Your Position ______________________________

Other officers or officials of the business

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

Other litigation you have been involved in

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

Other litigation you are involved in

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

Annual Sales or Income $_________________

What Does Your Business Make or Do?

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR OPPONENT

Name _________________________________________________________________

Is Your Opponent a Business? ______________________________________________

Form of Your Opponent’s Business (corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.) ________________________________________

Place of Doing Business _________________________________________________

Address, Including County

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Length of Time at that Address _______ years

Previous Address(es) (for last 10 years)

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Their Work Telephone Numbers __________________ ____________________

Their Home Telephone Numbers __________________ ____________________

Facsimile Number __________________

E-mail Address __________________

Web page (if any) __________________

Former Name(s __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________

Related Business(es) __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________

Your Contact Person at the Opponent ______________________________

Other Officers or Officials of the Business

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

Are you aware of any litigation you opponent has been involved in?

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

______________________________ _______________________________

Annual Sales or Income $_________________

What does your opponent or your opponent’s business make or do?

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Name of Your Opponent’s Attorney: _________________________________________

INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT- WHY IS THIS GOING TO COURT?

Are you suing or being sued? _______________________________________________

If you are suing:

Describe the incident that occurred that makes you want to sue your opponent:

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

How much are the damages you have suffered? $_____________________________

How much have you budgeted for this lawsuit? $_____________________________

Are there written documents that relate to any agreements you have with your opponent? _____________________________

Are you aware of any claims your opponent may have against you? If so, please explain them

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

If you are being sued:

Describe the incident that occurred that resulted in you being sued:

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

How much are the damages that are being claimed? $____________________________

How much have you budgeted for this lawsuit? $_____________________________

Are there written documents that relate to any agreements you have with your opponent? _____________________________

Are you aware of any claims you may have against your opponent? If so, please explain them

___________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

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By Danny Dion - March 28th, 2008 - In Small Business Resources.
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