As a business owner, the biggest mistake you could make is not hiring a lawyer when you need one.
The law constantly changes. What was legal yesterday may not be today because of new case rulings. With constantly changing business laws, you need an attorney to give you timely advice on how to navigate your choices.
A lawyer will advise you which laws apply to your case and how to handle your specific situation. When necessary, they will fight your case in court or negotiate on your behalf with another party.
Building Your Legal Team
If you get into legal trouble for anything, consult with a lawyer as soon as possible so you can clearly understand your rights and obligations. Besides supporting you in court, attorneys can also provide expert guidance on how to properly structure your business.
Sometimes, too, you may also need to hire a court reporter for legal matters, too. If, for example, your business is in the Windy City, then you’ll want to hire a court reporter in Chicago.
This is always your best choice when you need to transcribe interviews, depositions, or other legal proceedings. They can efficiently capture what is being said word for word and also provide extra litigation support for record retrieval, trial services, interpreting and translations, or transcription services.
How to Hire a Lawyer
Small businesses can often make mistakes that can get them into trouble. What’s more, as a business owner, you could get into legal trouble for many reasons, sometimes even for no fault of your own. These can range from issues with intellectual property to firing employees to getting sued by a client for breach of contract.
Hiring a lawyer can be a challenging task because it’s essential to find the right person for the job.
You first need to get clear about the nature of your business problem before you can decide on the right lawyer to represent you.
The smartest way to hire an attorney is not to do a Google search or use an online directory but to look for one based on their professional reputation. Ask other business owners who they hired when they had legal issues. Also, speak to business leaders in your community and do your own independent research to find the best attorney for your business.
Since there are many legal specialties, you need someone well-versed in business law.
A business law attorney is familiar with legal issues related to the running and managing of a business or company, such as drafting contracts and buying and selling companies.
This attorney also has experience with less common areas like intellectual property rights and bankruptcy proceedings. They can also help you with insurance coverage, family-owned businesses, and estate planning.
The Importance of Having an Attorney on Your Side
As a small business owner focused on running an ethical business, you might often overlook the need for legal counsel when creating or expanding your company. This omission can be a costly mistake because lawyers can suggest realistic solutions to complex issues.
Say, for example, a client sues you for not breach of contract, you might decide to represent yourself. This is because you assume that any reasonable judge would toss it out as a frivolous lawsuit after you explain the facts of how you fully complied with the terms of the contract. Representing yourself in a business case is a blunder. Although you know you have been honest in your dealings with the client, their lawyers might make you look like the guilty party. Even if you know you’re in the right, a judge may not see things your way.
Hiring an attorney is always a good bet, even if you just use them on an as-needed basis.
