Choosing a Lawyer
The practice of business law can seem like a black art: as a client, you will
want to enjoy the magic without getting boiled in the cauldron. What do you
look for in a good business lawyer?
Fitness and aptness are key. Both are essential: a good business lawyer will
be skilled and apt to meets your needs.
A fit lawyer is smart, diligent, experienced, credible, reliable, attentive
to detail, tough, fair-minded, and discerning. Equally critical are a consistent
ability to think and communicate clearly (and strategically), write well, and
act with integrity, politeness, and professionalism.
An apt lawyer is open and direct with you, knows your strategic goals, gives
value for cost, inspires confidence, and handles the range of things that affect
your business.
In examining fitness, look at a lawyer’s background, academics, career
history, communication and writing skills, and types of clients represented
and matters handled.
In examining aptness, note how a lawyer works with you: are you getting value
or overkill? is the lawyer nimble in dealing with early-stage start-ups? is
he practical and direct? All of this matters – a lot. You will wince if
there is a mismatch.
The final intangible is a strong bond of trust. If you don’t like and
trust your lawyer, forget it. There are enough challenges in building a business.
Wondering whose side your lawyer is on should not be one of them.
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