Page 34 - midJersey Business - January 2015

MID-JERSEY
LEGAL GUIDE

When

Should

W
How Should You
You Hire

Select a Lawyer?
a Lawyer?

While there is no hard and fast rule on who either does not know the answer
If you are reading this article, you are selection of an attorney, the best and and advises you that he or she will have

likely a business owner or are looking to most time-tested approach is to ask for to perform research to locate the answer
referrals from other business owners or is afraid to appear to the client to
start a business. If you own an existing
whose opinion you respect.
not know the answer. To know when to
business and do not already have a The irst and most important step to advise the client to seek the advice of

relationship with a lawyer, now is the take in choosing an attorney to represent another professional in implementing a
your business is to “interview” several business goal is a value that a good at-
time to start solidifying a relationship so
there is someone to turn to if and when local business attorneys to see which at- torney brings to the table.
torney best suits your needs and is most In addition, good legal advice goes
the need arises. If you are looking to
compatible with your personality and beyond preparing forms and contracts.
start a business, retaining a business goals. The bottom line is you want to be A good attorney has the training and

lawyer is a smart move to ensure
comfortable with your attorney.
real-world experience to help you see
You should approach this process with the broader picture. A good attorney can
that you select the proper corporate
the anticipation that your relationship provide you with entirely new concepts,
structure for your business, you have
with your attorney will expand into one ideas, contacts, and specialists to help
the right forms in place, and you are in of the three most impor-
you grow your business.

compliance with the many rules and tant professional relation-
You should look for
The three most
ships that you will have
characteristics in an
regulations imposed on businesses by important professionals
as a business owner. The
attorney that make
the State of New Jersey.
three most important
them a good negotiator hired by you to advise

professionals hired by you
or business-savvy deal- you in making business
to advise you in making
maker who will help you
and strategic decisions
business and strategic
achieve your goals. No
decisions are your at-
client wants an attorney are your attorney, your

torney, your accountant,
who is only focused on
and your insurance agent.
the downsides and risk accountant, and your

Each person in this tri-
as this will only stagnate insurance agent.
fecta should complement
your business. The worst

the other two in terms of
lawyer is one who says,
skill sets and be able to work with and “You can’t do that.” The discussion your

communicate with each other in realiz- attorney should have with you is more

ing your goals.
along the lines of, “You shouldn’t go
An attorney who has the conidence to about Y because of X, instead you should

advise you that, for example, he or she is do Z and here is why.” Of course, there
unsure of the tax aspects of a particular is always legal risk, and at some point,

transaction and because of his or her your attorney should advise you of the
relationship with your accountant can risks versus the beneits and then allow

simply state “let’s call up Susan and see you to make a business decision.
what she thinks about how this contract Most importantly, a good attorney

will affect your tax liability for next year” will be willing to meet you at your
is far more valuable than an attorney
business. A good attorney will want to

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