how should new venture look for attorney

by Ms. Rahsaan Leffler III 9 min read

What should new business owners look for in a lawyer? It’s wise to have many options when it comes to hiring a small business lawyer for legal advice. Meet with a few attorneys and choose one who is a good fit for your company and with whom you believe you will have a solid attorney-client relationship.

Full Answer

What should you look for when hiring a business lawyer?

Look for a lawyer who understands your business, is an effective communicator and gives advice that is targeted to the issue at hand. – Neil Lerner , Cox, Wootton, Lerner, Griffin & Hansen LLP 3. Personality Find a lawyer that you like -- plain and simple.

How do I brand my new law firm?

Branding and developing your marketing strategy takes time but is critical for the growth of your new law firm. Investigate all potential marketing avenues for your firm and then commit to implementing those that work best based on your firm’s overarching goals. Law firms can be complex and fast-moving organizations.

How to choose the right attorney for You?

Much like an accountant or a contractor, you should approach choosing an attorney wisely. Not only will you be sharing confidential information with this person, but you will also be entrusting them to offer you proper legal advice and guide you through a situation you wouldn’t otherwise be able to navigate on your own.

Are clients changing how they find lawyers?

In today’s world, clients are changing how they find lawyers and while referrals will always be a source of new business, this is only the start. We encourage attorneys to take a broader view and take advantage of the many avenues potential clients are using to find help solving their problems.

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What is the best way to market to lawyers?

10 steps for marketing your law firmCreate a marketing budget. ... Build a well-designed law firm website. ... Ensure your site is search engine optimized. ... Claim your free online profiles. ... Make sure your law firm has a social media presence. ... Manage your law firm's online reviews effectively. ... Try your hand at content marketing.More items...•

What are four things that you should find out about in looking for an attorney?

Five Things to Look For When Hiring an AttorneyEXPERIENCE. One of the most important things to look for in a potential attorney is experience – i.e. experience the lawyer and their law firm have in handling matters similar to those which you are facing. ... LEGAL FEES. ... COMMUNICATION. ... AVAILABILITY. ... HONEST ADVICE.

What qualities would you look for when hiring a lawyer?

7 Qualities to Look for in a Lawyer Before HiringExcellent Communication Skills. First, you want to make sure to find a lawyer with good communication skills. ... Research and Analytical Skills. ... Ethics and Good Judgement. ... Empathy. ... Perseverance. ... People Skills. ... Creativity.

What are three important qualities a lawyer needs to have?

Below are ten traits that are common to the best lawyers in the United States.Passion for the Job. ... Compassion for Clients. ... Great Communication Skills. ... Willingness to Listen. ... Knowledge of the Law. ... Strong Writing Ability. ... Creativity. ... Good Judgment.More items...•

What are some questions you should ask a lawyer?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•

What questions should you ask when hiring a lawyer?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

What are the seven skills of a lawyer?

10 KEY SKILLS EVERY LAWYER NEEDS TO MASTER#1 Fluent Verbal Communication. ... #2 Superior Writing Skills. ... #3 Logical and Analytical Rationale. ... #4 Extensive Legal Research. ... #5 Coherent Client Service. ... #6 Well-versed In Technology. ... #7 Substantive Knowledge on Law and Legal Procedures. ... #8 Initiated toward Teamwork.More items...•

How do you know if I would be a good lawyer?

You work well with others. That's right—being a lawyer means working with people! ... You can persuade others. The ability to persuade=the practice of law. ... You are independent and self-disciplined. ... You can endure the grind. ... You don't take things at face value. ... You must be able to network.

What interests should a person have for law?

Law (main motivation: serving and protecting society)applying rules and regulations.influencing people.legal matters.persuading people.protecting others.social justice.solving difficult situations.working with those who have lost direction.

What are the weaknesses of a lawyer?

WeaknessesSkills gaps.Poor work habits.Client development.Negative personal characteristics.

What are the four responsibilities of lawyers?

It describes the sources and broad definitions of lawyers' four responsibilities: duties to clients and stakeholders; duties to the legal system; duties to one's own institution; and duties to the broader society.

What personality should a lawyer have?

Trustworthiness, listening skills, emotional awareness, diplomacy, and other human relations capabilities are the coin of the realm for successful corporate lawyers. (Again, excellent judgment and management skills are taken as a given for these positions.)

How to avoid missed meetings?

Often, between paperwork and meetings, there can be a tendency to fall out of touch. Try to establish proactive communication at the beginning. Mention your preferred form of communication and discuss your hours, so you are both on the same page . This will prevent missed meetings or phone calls.

What is a lawpot?

The LawDepot Team consists of professional writers and editors with years of experience researching and writing about a variety of legal topics. LawDepot’s in-house legal team reviews all law-related content to ensure the information we provide is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.

What to consider when choosing a lawyer?

While there are many professional things to consider when choosing a lawyer, their character should also factor into your decision. Find someone that is trustworthy and makes you feel comfortable. Mutual respect is also important.

How to be a good attorney?

A good attorney should also take the time to explain complicated matters, provide you with plain English advice on your situation, and present you with an array of options or solutions to mull over before deciding on a plan of action.

How to find out about a lawyer's practice history?

You can find out information about their practicing history by simply asking them, or checking out their firm’s website (if they have one). An attorney with more experience may be more valuable, but only if their experience matches your situation, as well as your budget.

What is the area of law?

Area of law. Lawyers tend to specialize in certain areas of law, as it is a very large field of study, similar to medicine. Some cover real estate law, while others pursue business, family, intellectual property, immigration, employment, accident/injury, bankruptcy, criminal, or civil rights law.

How does the size of a law firm affect your decision?

The size of the law firm can affect your decision in a few ways. Larger firms are usually more established and have greater resources, but can also be more costly.

Ongoing Support

The legal support needed for a corporation does not end with the filing of articles of incorporation, closing of a round of financing or protection of intellectual property.

New Businesses

We respect the drive of entrepreneurs. Your new business is the result of your idea, your expertise, your intellectual property

A New Venture In The Practice Of Law

From the moment the entrepreneurial spirit kicks in and you say "I'm going to start a business" to the day you wrap up your "exit strategy", and you either kick off a new business or retire to a vacation paradise, you need a professional law partner to guide your legal, tax, and business planning efforts.

Tomer Tal, J.D., M.B.A

Tomer Tal founded New Venture Attorneys so that he might combine the strengths of his background - experience with highly respected legal firms and experience as in-house counsel for venture incubators and large start-up corporations.

Joanna M. Garcia

As the Chief operating officer for New Venture Attorneys, P.C., Joanna provides direct support to the CEO and Attorney, Tomer Tal. She oversees the organization's ongoing operations and procedures. As the organization's second-in-command, she is responsible for inspecting the efficiency of the business.

How to test a firm's communication?

One way to test the firm's communication is to email them questions shortly after your initial visit. Withhold a few questions from the consultation and follow up via email. If it takes days to respond, the firm may just be too busy to handle your matter.

What is the most important quality of a counselor?

Comfort. The first, and perhaps most important, quality is that you should feel comfortable in your counselor's presence. A comfortable and open relationship will allow you to share relevant information to your case openly, honestly, and completely.

How long should I stay in contact with a divorce lawyer?

If this is more than a short-term dispute, such as a contentious divorce, you'll need to stay in contact with this attorney regularly over a few months, if not years. What you want to avoid is the attorney that does not return phone calls or emails in a timely manner. Though your case may be routine for him, it is very important to you and should be treated as such.

What should I look for when choosing a lawyer?

What Should I Look for When Trying to Choose a Lawyer? A lawyer is an advocate. She should fight on your behalf, using reasonable, ethical, and cost-effective means. You should have an open line of communication with your attorney. After all, there's a reason why attorneys are also referred to as “counselors.”.

Where can I find a good attorney?

Great attorneys can be found in high rise office buildings, small firms, solo offices, and in online directories.

Does a flat fee include court filing fees?

While some attorneys might advertise a very low flat fee, you'll also want to inquire as to any additional fees. The advertised price might not include court filing fees, or even the cost of printing documents for your case.

How much do lawyers spend on administrative tasks?

Lawyers spend 48% of their time on administrative tasks. 91% of firms can’t calculate a return on advertising investments. 94% of law firms don’t know how much it costs them to acquire a new client. Startling, but not insurmountable. You have the opportunity to build something great!

What are the benefits of owning your own law firm?

There are many benefits to being the proud owner of your own firm, including: The ability to do more than practice law. Sure, your legal services will be your bread and butter, but you’ll also be able to build your own business on your terms. Control when choosing your clients.

What is the chance to develop a business model that works for you?

The chance to develop a business model that works for you (and your clients and team). As someone else’s employee, you may have little control over the business model of the firm. As the owner of your own firm, you make the decisions, including those tied to your business model.

Is law a business?

Law practice is a business and a profession. To start your own law firm successfully, you must agree to see it as both. The skills that it takes to run a business aren’t the same skills it takes to practice law.

Can you write a vision statement for a law firm?

Yes, your vision should be clear, measurable, and easy to talk about, but condensing your dreams and plans into one sentence can be confining. Use this time to write as much as you need. This is the first step to putting the foundation down for your law firm key performance indicators.

Is it a good idea to start a law firm?

In fact, it was for many of us! Unfortunately, most law schools are designed to teach you how to think like a lawyer and don’t devote much time teaching you how to start and run a business.

Do you need to practice law to run a business?

While many of the skills you need to practice law will help you in your business, running your business will require you to tackle different problems than practicing law. And these challenges don’t go away as your business matures and grows. They just change and challenge you in new ways.

Choosing Your New Venture Legal Entity

In the first post of the series The Ultimate Checklist for Entrepreneurs, Innovators and Micro-enterprises the importance of doing good market research was discussed. The next step is to determine the type of business you want to be and then set up the correct legal entity to begin new business operations.

Setting up a Your New Venture – Pre-Legal Entity Selection Questions

By now you have done a fair amount of market research and have determined the method in which your new venture marketing plans will be carried out. With this information, now you need to determine what type of business that you want to have. Not everyone wants to be a corporate mogul or is seeking part-time income.

Setting up Your New Venture – Choosing a Legal Entity

Once you have determined how your new venture is going to be run it is time to select a legal form of conducting business. Establishing a legal business entity is generally required by most states in order to obtain licenses, collection of sales tax etc.

How to choose a lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer is a crucial step in the resolution of your legal matter. Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, or merely a party looking for counsel, the right lawyer is key. But like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always last forever. Common problems that clients report with attorneys include: 1 Poor results. The lawyer is simply not achieving the results you were led to believe he or she could achieve. 2 Bad communication. The lawyer is not communicating about crucial legal matters and decisions, leaving you uncertain of where your matter is or what's expected of you. 3 Lack of professionalism. The lawyer perhaps arrives late to meetings, doesn't remember key facts about the case, cannot find documents already provided by the client, and even forgets to submit documents by key deadlines.

Why do judges get annoyed with lawyer shopping?

Judges in particular might become annoyed at a client who is "lawyer shopping," because this delays the matter and clogs their dockets. It also suggests that you are a difficult client, or that your claims are not meritorious.

What are the bad things about lawyers?

Bad communication. The lawyer is not communicating about crucial legal matters and decisions, leaving you uncertain of where your matter is or what's expected of you. Lack of professionalism.

Why is it important to choose a lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer is a crucial step in the resolution of your legal matter. Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant, or merely a party looking for counsel, the right lawyer is key. But like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always last forever.

Does a lawyer-client relationship last forever?

. . . like all relationships, the lawyer-client relationship does not always last forever.

Is a lawyer responsible for your own legal affairs?

One important thing to realize is that, even though you hired the services of a professional, you are still ultimately responsible for your own legal affairs, and for what your lawyer says and does on your behalf. If you believe there is a problem with the service you are receiving, it may be vital to your interests to do something about it.

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Long Or Short term?

Area of Law

Are They Highly regarded?

Location

Experience

Size of Firm

Cost and Billing

  • Ultimately, cost will be a factor when you’re choosing an attorney. How much you are willing to spend is up to you. You can gather more information beforehand by asking the lawyer for a quote, as well as how they bill their clients. It could be an hourly fee, a flat rate, a contingency fee, a negotiable fee, or possibly even a retainer for future f...
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Compatibility

Availability

Communication