Legal expenditure, particularly for a small business, can account for major spending. It’s therefore wise to make sure the attorney you hire is the best one.
Initially, you might find it difficult to hire a lawyer as the entire process is something you, as a business owner, are unfamiliar with. Here is a step-by-step guide to familiarize yourself with the process of hiring an attorney & making sure you get a business lawyer best for your business.
Know what you’re looking for
Generally, it’s wise to have a lawyer before you have a legal battle in your hand.
If you’re new to the process of hiring a business lawyer, the first question you should ask yourself is “why do I need a lawyer?” Possible options are you need assistance raising money, developing contracts, securing IP, drafting agreements or creating employee management term sheets.
Generally, there are two types of lawyers- generalists and specialists. Ideally, you should hire a generalist to look over all your matters, but if a specific section of your business needs special attention, hiring a specialist would be a good idea. Remember, even if you don’t need an attorney it’s always responsible to have one under consideration. Crisis, as we know, doesn’t knock on the door.
Finding a business lawyer
The best way to look for a lawyer is through recommendations. Ask the people in your personal and professional network for any references and you shall receive a few leads right there. You can also scan through online directories if you wish to expand your pool.
If you’re looking for the best business lawyers in Calgary, look no further. Du Plooy Law, in Calgary, has experience with multiple legal services. And they serve more than a dozen industries. You can give them a call or drop a mail here.
Set up a meeting
Once you’ve shortlisted a few lawyers, the best way moving forward would be to set up a meeting, over a phone or in person.
The first task would be to brief the lawyer about your business, explain issues(if any) and provide any necessary paperwork crucial to the concerned matter. Then you can begin with asking relevant questions inquiring experience, fee structure, obligations such as conflict of interest, etc.
Though these questions barely cover what needs to be asked, they provide a general idea of what your inquiry should revolve around. Accordingly, after multiple meetings, you should feel comfortable choosing a lawyer that you think is the best.
Set up a fee structure
Once you’ve finalized a lawyer, deciding on the fee structure should be the next immediate step. There are multiple ways to structure a fee, it’ll depend on what services you need and the ones you’re likely to need in the future. The important thing to remember is that anything you finalize, get it written down on paper, preferably in an agreement form.
Maybe, you don’t’ need a lawyer
Although it’s advised to have a lawyer, sometimes you’re better off one. There are some legal processes that you can complete yourself. Few being, obtaining a business license, filing tax returns and hiring employees. If you don’t absolutely need an attorney, you could save some money in the short run.
That said, you can never know when things escalate and it’s always better to have a lawyer by your side. Contact Du Plooy Law, the best business lawyers in Calgary.
