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10 Tips to Hire a Great Business Lawyer

April 21, 2019 By Kelley Keller

10 Tips to Hire a Great Business Lawyer

Have you ever hired a lawyer? Do you know someone who has? Whether you or someone you know has hired an attorney for personal or business matters, you’ve probably heard at least one horror story. That’s because few people do the necessary research to choose a great lawyer before they need one.

It’s easy to find a lawyer, but finding a great lawyer whom you can afford can be challenging. You have to do your homework!

Use the 10 tips below to find the right attorney for your business needs:

1. Ask People You Know

Ask the people you know for attorney recommendations. There is no better way to vet a business attorney than by getting real testimonials from people you know and trust.

If you’re active on social media (and as a business owner, you should be), then you can ask everyone who follows you for recommendations, too.

2. Review Attorneys’ Social Media Profiles

Unfortunately, most attorneys have yet to embrace technology, particularly social media, but those who understand that we live in a digital world where digital business is the norm provide a bevy of information about themselves on their social media profiles.

Visit their LinkedIn profiles and review their experience. Read the recommendations that other LinkedIn users have submitted about them, and read the content they publish on LinkedIn.

Review their Facebook and Twitter Profiles, and if they write a blog, read that, too! These profiles are windows into an attorney’s insights and experience.

3. Don’t Limit Your Search to Large Firms

A big law firm with dozens of attorneys might seem like the right choice, but don’t jump on the bandwagon without careful consideration first. Do you want to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond?

Large law firms have hundreds or thousands of clients, and many of those clients pay big firms a lot more money than you will. Which client will be prioritized? The one that pays millions of dollars to the firm each year or the one that pays hundreds per year? If your legal issue is small, you’ll likely be assigned to a low-level associate, so all of that big firm experience won’t even touch you.

Also, big law firms come with big price tags. Often, you can find a small firm with lower prices but equal (or better) attorneys. Shop around!

4. Talk to the People You’ll Actually Work With

When you contact a law firm or meet with them, make sure you’re talking to the attorney and team who will actually be working on your business matters.

For example, a partner at a large firm might make himself or herself available at an initial consultation, but once you hire the firm, you never speak to him or her again.

You want to build a relationship with the people you’ll work with on an ongoing basis, so make sure they’re involved from the beginning.

5. Ask Questions

The biggest mistake you can make when choosing a business lawyer is to call a firm and ask how much they charge for a specific service. A great business attorney will be reluctant to give you a price for a specific service until they understand more about your situation and needs.

A great business attorney will tell you what you need rather than just charging you for anything you ask for. With that in mind, dive deep in your initial calls. Ask hard questions and get thorough answers to make sure the attorney truly knows his or her stuff before you hire the firm.

6. Find a Proactive Business Attorney

You don’t want to hire a business attorney who simply creates documents for you. A transactional relationship that is highly reactionary (i.e., the attorney waits for you to ask before they provide you with anything) won’t necessarily be the right help for you or your business.

Instead, find a business lawyer who wants to fully understand your business, anticipates problems, recognizes opportunities, and recommends legal support that can help you reach your goals.

7. Discuss Fees

You can’t avoid a discussion about fees because you need to know that you can afford to pay the lawyer you want to hire. As a business owner, you have a budget that you need to stick to, so look for a business attorney who offers predictable, transparent pricing.

8. Find the Right Type of Attorney

You wouldn’t go to a family doctor for your heart problems (you’d go to a cardiologist), so don’t go to a general business attorney for your trademark and copyright matters (go to an intellectual property attorney). Too often, business owners make the mistake of working with the wrong type of attorney.

There are many specialized areas of the law including tax law, insurance law, real estate law, estate planning law, and more. These areas of legal practice require additional education and change frequently.

Make sure you’re working with the right type of attorney or you might not get the best advice.

9. Find a Business Lawyer You Can Build a Relationship With

Your business lawyer will become a critical member of your team, so you need to hire someone you can trust and with whom you can speak openly and honestly.

Make sure you’re comfortable with the business attorney you hire. This includes ensuring that you can understand him or her. Hiring an attorney who only speaks “legalese” when you don’t is a waste of money – you simply don’t have a common language. After all, why would you pay for advice you can’t understand?

Instead, hire an attorney who can explain complex legal issues that affect you, your business, and your family in terms you can understand and to which you can relate.  

10. Start Your Search Now

Don’t wait to search for a business lawyer until you’re in some kind of trouble. At that point, you’ll feel desperate and will settle for someone who might not be the best match for you or your legal concerns.

By hiring a business lawyer before you’re in trouble, the attorney has a chance to get to know you and your business. He or she will understand what your future goals are and how you plan to reach those goals. With that knowledge, your business attorney will be able to act quickly to ensure your interests are protected when potential problems arise.

About Kelley Keller

Kelley Keller, Esq. is an intellectual property (IP) attorney, speaker, and educator with two decades of experience in the IP field. She works with individuals and businesses in a wide variety of industries helping them transform their ideas, knowledge, and innovation into valuable business assets that drive profits. Kelley offers education to established businesses, startups, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, non-profits, government agencies, legal professionals, and students about starting and growing a business as well as about IP, social media law, and the importance of protecting valuable brand assets and creative work.

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What People are Saying about Kelley Keller

Lisa Frederiksen | Author, Speaker, Trainer, Consultant at BreakingTheCycles.com

Kelley works differently. After an initial phone conversation (I live in CA and she's in PA), she drafted a scope of work for both efforts and set a flat fee which included (and still includes) the back and forth conversations a client needs in order to get the best results. She is extremely knowledgeable and truly able to "hear" what I'm after and create meaningful legal documents and advice that have helped me immeasurably. I highly recommend Kelley Keller.
2016-04-23T10:27:42-05:00
Kelley works differently. After an initial phone conversation (I live in CA and she's in PA), she drafted a scope of work for both efforts and set a flat fee which included (and still includes) the back and forth conversations a client needs in order to get the best results. She is extremely knowledgeable and truly able to "hear" what I'm after and create meaningful legal documents and advice that have helped me immeasurably. I highly recommend Kelley Keller.
http://kelleykeller.com/testimonials/lisa-frederiksen/

Kelly Phillips Erb | Senior Editor at Forbes

Kelley was able to explain complicated legal issues in a manner that was easy to understand without being patronizing. She was also great at talking me down from ledges - it was easy to get worked up when opposing parties weren't being cooperative but Kelley advised me to trust in the process and she was right.

Kelley explained my costs and options, as well as the pros and cons of each. She also kept me informed about my matter, letting me know what I needed to do at the appropriate time. All in all, I felt very involved in the process without being overwhelmed. Kelley made a wildly stressful situation so much better. I would highly recommend her services.
2016-04-23T10:42:43-05:00
Kelley was able to explain complicated legal issues in a manner that was easy to understand without being patronizing. She was also great at talking me down from ledges - it was easy to get worked up when opposing parties weren't being cooperative but Kelley advised me to trust in the process and she was right. Kelley explained my costs and options, as well as the pros and cons of each. She also kept me informed about my matter, letting me know what I needed to do at the appropriate time. All in all, I felt very involved in the process without being overwhelmed. Kelley made a wildly stressful situation so much better. I would highly recommend her services.
http://kelleykeller.com/testimonials/kelly-phillips-erb-senior-editor-forbes/

Charlotte Avery | CEO at Being Charlotte Avery

Words cannot express how much I appreciate Kelley Keller. She has helped me and my business on so many levels. Whenever I have a question I always know that I can call her and she will give me the best advice/counsel. I know that my business is in good hands with Kelley.

Kelley, THANK YOU for EVERYTHING!!!
2016-04-23T10:46:03-05:00
Words cannot express how much I appreciate Kelley Keller. She has helped me and my business on so many levels. Whenever I have a question I always know that I can call her and she will give me the best advice/counsel. I know that my business is in good hands with Kelley. Kelley, THANK YOU for EVERYTHING!!!
http://kelleykeller.com/testimonials/charlotte-avery-ceo-charlotte-avery/

Ruth Koup | Founder of Suits to Careers, Inc., Dress for Success South Central PA & Tied to Success

Kelley Clements Keller, Esq has been a huge support to the launch of our new umbrella organization, Suits to Careers, Inc. and the branding and trademarking of our men's program, Tied to Success. We could not have navigated this transition without her support. Many thanks.
2016-04-23T10:49:27-05:00
Kelley Clements Keller, Esq has been a huge support to the launch of our new umbrella organization, Suits to Careers, Inc. and the branding and trademarking of our men's program, Tied to Success. We could not have navigated this transition without her support. Many thanks.
http://kelleykeller.com/testimonials/ruth-koup/

Matt Bloom | Founder & CEO of CRIMEWATCH Technologies, Inc.

Kelley is an exceptional IP attorney. She understands the legal nuances facing start-ups and is willing to work within those restrictions. Kelley is casual and easy to work with, but when it comes to legal action she is aggressive and takes charge. She has successfully helped us secure coexistence agreements and trademarks for our business. Here expertise has added exponential value to the technology we have built and I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking IP representation.
2016-04-23T10:53:29-05:00
Kelley is an exceptional IP attorney. She understands the legal nuances facing start-ups and is willing to work within those restrictions. Kelley is casual and easy to work with, but when it comes to legal action she is aggressive and takes charge. She has successfully helped us secure coexistence agreements and trademarks for our business. Here expertise has added exponential value to the technology we have built and I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking IP representation.
http://kelleykeller.com/testimonials/matt-bloom-founder-ceo-crimewatch-technologies-inc/

Zachary Ziegler | Brewmaster at Molly Pitcher Brewing Company

Kelley is not only extremely knowledgeable in the realm of intellectual property, but she made the whole process fun! It's not often you hear fun and legal work in the same sentence but Kelley's personality eased my worries while keeping me upbeat the whole time. She explained the entire process in language I could understand and kept me updated continuously. I would not hesitate to work with her again or refer her to my friends and family.
2016-04-23T10:54:48-05:00
Kelley is not only extremely knowledgeable in the realm of intellectual property, but she made the whole process fun! It's not often you hear fun and legal work in the same sentence but Kelley's personality eased my worries while keeping me upbeat the whole time. She explained the entire process in language I could understand and kept me updated continuously. I would not hesitate to work with her again or refer her to my friends and family.
http://kelleykeller.com/testimonials/zachary-ziegler-brewmaster-molly-pitcher-brewing-company/
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