A lot of people tend to neglect hiring a lawyer, mainly because they are under the assumption that it is too expensive, and they don’t really need one. The vast majority of people only hire a lawyer when they are in dire need, and at that time they usually settle for the first person who comes along. Here are some vital questions to ask a potential lawyer before hiring them.
- What area do you specialise in?
This is probably one of the most obvious questions to ask a potential lawyer, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t make this inquiry and end up hiring a legal representative who has no experience in dealing with small business owners. If you require commercial property litigation in Nottingham, it is important to deal with a professional lawyer who has knowledge of business dealings and not just a general practice attorney.
- Have you dealt with cases concerning small businesses before?
It is important to find out whether the solicitor or firm you’ve contacted has dealt with other similar cases involving small businesses like yours. If they’ve experience with similar cases, then there is a good chance they’ve encountered issues which are like the one you are facing at the moment. They know exactly how to approach your case, so you get the most appropriate outcome.
- How much will it cost?
It is vital that you find out how much the lawyer will cost, as a small business owner, you won’t have considerable funds to use, so you must try to hire the best possible legal representation you can find, and all at an affordable price. Ask them do they work on a case by case basis or do they charge by the hour, if they use the latter, you’ll need to find out how long it will take to resolve your issue. The longer it drags out the more expensive it becomes.
- Is there any conflict of interest?
If you find out that someone is bringing a case against you, and you require a commercial law expert to fight your corner, make sure you don’t hire a lawyer who works for the opposing counsel. This may sound obvious, but scenarios like this do exist. Do some background checks to ensure the firm you are dealing with isn’t already representing the plaintiff.
- Can you explain in layman’s terms?
There is a lot of legal jargon involved in law, so if you find a lawyer who doesn’t use too much of it and tries to explain things in layman’s terms, then you’ll find it a lot easier to communicate and understand your case. If they persist with specialised language, it is time to consider other professionals.
It is challenging to run your own small business, you’ll encounter a range of issues and most will be resolved using a trained, experienced business lawyer. So, before you decide on a representative, you should ask potential solicitors some important questions and see what kind of answers you receive.
