when to start questioning your attorney

Attorneys in every state have an ethical obligation to advise you of any conflict of interest. Still, you should ask the question. If the lawyer’s representation of prior or existing clients would limit the attorney’s ability to represent you, there is likely a conflict.

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What questions to ask a business lawyer before starting a business?

Apr 09, 2015 · If a lawyer rushes you or makes you feel that your questions are naïve, you may need to keep looking. Taking the time to ask questions at the beginning will give you a much better chance of having a solid and successful attorney-client relationship.

What questions should I Ask my Lawyer when meeting with him?

Feb 12, 2020 · Let’s get the big question out of the way first. As a small business owner, you’re very cost-conscious. In fact, you probably don’t have a lot of extra money lying around for an attorney so the price becomes important. Talk to your attorney to see if you can negotiate a fixed fee for your needs rather than an hourly rate.

Do lawyers like to do the questioning?

Jun 15, 2019 · So, whether it’s criminal, civil, bankruptcy, divorce, whatever it is, if you’re going to hire a lawyer at some point in your life, you need to ask the right questions and that’s when I’m going to get into in this video today, to help you to ask the right questions that you just don’t know how to ask, so let’s jump right in.

Why is it important to ask questions in law school?

The more you plan and strategize before you start your business, the more likely you will be able to succeed. Here are the 5 top questions to ask a business lawyer before starting a business. Before you start your business, make sure yourself you ask the following…. If you have any other questions about starting and growing your business ...

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting. New entrepreneurs have their hands full, making plans, developing products and services, and lining up financing.

What does a business lawyer do?

A business lawyer can explain how to start a business and answer your business law questions. But more importantly, a lawyer can identify the risks you face and help you minimize them. When you meet with your lawyer for the first time, it’s a good idea to have some questions in mind.

What to do before starting a small business?

Before starting a small business, you must decide how your business will be structured. If you do not form a formal business entity, your business will either be a sole proprietorship (with one owner) or a general partnership (with more than one owner). Legally, you and your business will be the same “person,” so if your business has debts ...

How Should I Structure My Business?

This seems like a basic question, but it’s actually one of the most important things you can ask when you sit down with a business attorney.

How Do I Protect My Personal Assets?

Regardless of the specific structure you choose for your business, you want to structure your business to protect your non-business assets.

How Do I Minimize My Risk?

Regardless of the type of business you own, there is a huge range of state and federal regulations that apply to you.

What Should Be in My Bylaws?

Part of this process of minimizing risk and protecting your assets involves writing your bylaws properly.

How Can I Protect My Intellectual Property?

All businesses, yours included, need certain trademarks to identify themselves from other businesses.

What Contracts Does My Business Need?

Contracts are one of the most basic things you deal with on a day-to-day basis in your business. But they’re central to successfully running a business, as they spell out your responsibilities and obligations in any agreement.

More Questions to Ask an Attorney

Now that you know what questions to ask an attorney, you need to find an attorney to answer them for you.

Why is questioning important?

In the context of clients, these skills are important for learning about the details of the case, confirming information, and avoiding misunderstandings.

What is the difference between open and closed questions?

Open-ended questions typically elicit more information, while closed-ended questions can be answered with one word or phrase. For instance, “Tell me what happened that night” is an open-ended question that might lead to your gathering plentiful information from the interviewee, whereas “where was the party” is a closed-ended question that can be answered directly with the address of the event, with no other detail.

What is funnel questioning?

Funnel questioning involves an intentional sequence of inquiry that typically consists of a long line of closed-ended questions, which, when answered, can allow for more open-ended questions later on. For instance, if you wanted to learn about a car accident your client was involved in, you might choose to use a line of questioning similar to the one below:

What is the most important communication skill in a legal career?

Among the most important communication skills to master is asking questions effectively .

What to say when you're going through a divorce?

I don’t need them to have tons of empathy and sympathy, but you want them to care. You want them to be passionate . As a criminal defendant , I was freaked out. I was scared to death. I didn’t know what to do. If you’re going through a divorce or a civil issue, you’re suing or being sued, it’s a very big deal.

Do civil lawyers do the same thing?

A number of civil lawyers will do absolutely the same thing. It’s nice to fix and lock the fee. It’s nice to know what it’s going to cost. The downside at times to an inclusive fee is you may not feel as if they’re doing all of the work, because they’ve already been paid.

Do you have to scratch a bankruptcy check?

If you hire bankruptcy, civil, criminal, whatever type of lawyer it may be, and they say it’s 50,000, 100,000, 200,000, you don’t need to scratch them a check at once. They haven’t done any of the work.

What to do if your lawyer is not working?

If you are concerned your lawyer is not working on your case, write him a polite but firm letter explaining your concerns. If you feel more comfortable emailing or calling him, that would be fine as well. You are under no obligation to express your concerns in a formal letter.

How to write a letter to an attorney?

To write a letter to your attorney, start by writing your address, and, if applicable, your email and cell number in the upper left corner of the page. Under this information, include the date and your attorney’s name and address. Finally, include your case number or your full name.

Where should my attorney's name be placed in a letter?

Your attorney's name and address should be placed on the left regardless of whether you are using full block or modified block format. If there is a paralegal that is working on your specific case, you may wish to write to include it in parenthesis next to the attorney's name.