What to look for in a lawyer

Finding a good lawyer and building a good working relationship with them is crucial, especially if you are starting a business or work in niche industries like media, marketing, entertainment or any business that creates Intellectual Property.

1.     It’s so important to find a lawyer who aligns with your values and business culture. This will help you build trust and ensure that your lawyer is invested in your business and wants to see it succeed.

2.     Look for a lawyer that listens to you and is enthusiastic about understanding your business needs. A good lawyer should ask questions about your business and listen to your needs to give you the right advice.

3.     Tell your lawyer your goals and the purpose for engaging them. Explain the background to your business and your current situation. It’s a great idea to tell your lawyer all about your short and long term goals and business objectives. This will help your lawyer work with you to develop a legal plan to achieve your specific goals.

4.      Start big then go small. Although you might have one specific issue you want advice on, it’s important to fill your lawyer in on the key aspects of your small business or start-up before diving into the detail. Share any important documents for your business so your lawyer is aware of them. Often if you tell them only what you think you need, it won’t get done right the first time. Take the time to bring them into the tent and then listen to the options.

5.     Ask questions until you understand. It’s important you fully understand the work your lawyer is going to do for you and why. Key questions you should consider include: Why do you recommend this plan? Are there other options? What is the value to my business in doing this? How long do you think this could take? What assumptions are you making in creating this plan/scope? Are there any risks I should be aware of?

6.     Document the engagement. Your lawyer should provide you with several documents to sign, including an engagement letter, terms of engagement, and cost disclosure for you to read and sign.

7.     Keep in touch with your lawyer and expect them to keep in touch with you. Your lawyer should regularly update you on the progress of your matter. If possible, discuss and agree upfront how often you want to be updated.

8.     Update your lawyer when things change. Businesses can change every day, and it's important to keep your lawyer informed of any changes. New risk appears, existing ones dissipate or are managed, staff leave, new clients are found; the list goes on. Keeping your lawyer up to date will ensure that they can help you manage risk and make informed decisions.

Hopefully this will give you a good overview to what’s important between you and your lawyer. Take the time to build a relationship for the benefit of you and your business. Contact Monique at Connected Legal and Commercial if you would like to develop a business relationship. We work with businesses to scope out the requirements and map out the priorities so we can spread out the cost. We also often work with businesses on a retainer basis so they can plan the work and set the budgets.

Book in for a free 15-minute consult and we will see how we can help you grow and thrive in your business. https://calendly.com/monique-172/15_minute_consult or monique@connectedlegal.com.au