How to hire the right law firm for your company?

Whether it is a start-up company or owning a successful business, one faces a myriad of worries as an entrepreneur. Among these worries, hindrance caused to business from the legal perspective is one which shouldn’t be taken lightly. For start-up companies, lawyers are needed right from the incorporation process and even for drafting and executing one’s first operating contract. The trick is to find and hire the best and most trustworthy legal professional who can cater to your needs economically.

First off, there are certain matters which the proprietor can handle without spending money on a lawyer, provided he does his homework properly. Matters such as: writing a business plan, acquiring a domain name, handling audits, etc. can be handled by a layman if he takes proper care. However, in matters such as; employees suing on grounds of discrimination or hostile work environment, clients suing for breach or specific performance of contract, merger and acquisition matters, etc. professional legal advice is a must.

How does one hire the right law firm to aid in such matters?

Many factors have to be considered when hiring a law firm. Two main sectors of legal practice involve Litigation and Non-litigation.

Litigation lawyers are trained in handling suits of civil or criminal liabilities which do tend to come up in most big businesses. Non-litigation lawyers are those who handle transactional matters such as agreements, ventures, etc. at one time or the other, every company needs both kinds of lawyers. In which case, one can either hire a law firm that provides both the kinds of legal services, or one can hire different law firms for different types of legal service depending on their specialization.

For start-up companies, small assignments such as agreements, it is better to approach boutique law firms who have experienced professionals to personally handle your case, since big law firms give such small assignment to fresh associates for experience.

The next step is to identify the right kind of law firm according to one’s requirement. The best option is “hitting the web”. Researching the firm is a must; looking at their past record, their specialization, their success rate, testimonials, reputation, etc. A good R&D on a law firm before speaking to them is important. Not only the law firm, but it is also equally important to find out the backgrounds and experience of the partners and associates of the firm.

Once convinced of a particular law firm, one should approach them only after preparing a lot of questions, such as-

·        How many similar matters have you handled?

·        Which lawyer will be in charge of this case?

·        How will I be kept informed about the progress of the case?

·        How will I be charged for your services?

·        How can I reach you after normal business hours?

·        What are the minimum billing increments?

One should not leave the first meeting with the law firm with any sense of ambiguity on one’s mind, no matter how silly the doubt is. This is because normally the client is asked to sign the engagement letter to appoint the law firm after the “get-to-know” meeting, and signing an engagement letter will bind one to it and no doubts can be solved to one’s satisfaction after that, neither can any negotiation be made afterwards.

Lastly, one should always be in contact with their lawyer and develop good relations with them. A long lasting client is always well appreciated and valued. This is helpful in times when one needs legal assistance for matters outside the usual business area, one can get good recommendations and contacts from their usual lawyers.