Hiring Your Lawyer

I l @ ve RuBoard

When you think of a lawyer, think of a long- term close relationship. Your lawyer is your confidant and someone you should be able to trust and rely upon. The lawyer you choose to work with should not only be a legal expert in your area of business, but he or she should also be interested in working with you. You need to know that when "push comes to shove," your lawyer is willing and able to represent you with the necessary skill and expertise.

To find the right lawyer for you begin by asking around and collecting a few reputable names from people you trust. It's important to remember that, like doctors , lawyers have specialties. Would you see an orthopedic surgeon for a heart condition? This same rule applies to lawyers. Would you use a personal injury attorney to handle your business contracts? Ask for recommendations from individuals or businesses in your industry. When you have collected three or four names, contact those lawyers for an interview. It is reasonable for you to expect that an initial interview or consultation with a lawyer is free. The following is a list of qualities your lawyer ought to demonstrate :

  • Experience in your area of interest

  • References of satisfied clients

  • Empathy for your concerns

  • Availability to you

You may be wondering why we didn't include reasonable fees in the list of important qualities. In our opinion, your comfort level with a lawyer's fees is personal and one that only you can answer. Typically, a lawyer's fees can range from $75 to $400 per hour . Lawyers' hourly fees depend, for the most part, on their specialty, their experience, size of their practice, and their location. Keep in mind that sometimes there is no positive correlation between fees and service ”expensive doesn't indicate better. Once you have decided on your lawyer, expect he or she to draft a letter of engagement that will detail the nature of your relationship and the billing method. To keep your costs down, be prepared with the relevant information and paperwork whenever you meet. And remember ”unlike your mother, you shouldn't call your lawyer 1,000 times a day because he or she will charge you. When you're talking to your lawyer the clock is always ticking ”always.

The following is a true story about Kathy and her small publishing company:

While Kathy confesses to making several mistakes as a publisher, there were actually a few things she did right. When it came to picking a lawyer, she chose a lawyer who also represented some well-known publishers and successful authors. Despite the fact that Kathy was in south Florida and her lawyer was in New York, she decided to go with the best legal representation possible. She knew that small publishers face an uphill battle against the mighty larger publishers. Kathy chose an entertainment lawyer on Madison Avenue with 30 years experience, a long list of references, and an excellent reputation.

Early one spring morning, the telephone rang. It was the president of the national distributing company that was handling Kathy's line of books. He was upset and talking on his cell phone about Kathy stealing a cover from one of the largest publishers in the world. On the brink of a heart attack herself, Kathy listened as the president described getting a cryptic phone call from this publisher's legal team telling him that his "little" publisher had better change the cover of one of her books because it was the same one they were using. There was just one problem ”Kathy's book had come out before the big publisher's. In fact, their cover came out after Kathy had placed a large color advertisement in Publishers Weekly to promote the book. The question really was who stole what from whom?

Kathy's head was spinning. She called her lawyer in New York immediately because she feared that this powerful publisher could actually force her to pull the book off the bookshelves. Kathy's publishing company would have taken quite a financial hit, to say nothing of the author's disappointment. Her lawyer laughed, "You've made my day. I love it when the big guys try to bully the little guys." He called the legal team representing the larger publishing company and said that he wanted to meet with them immediately.

The publisher's legal team didn't know who was coming, but they assumed that a publisher this small must have a lawyer who worked from the back of a station wagon. When Kathy's lawyer walked into the meeting, every member of the legal team knew who he was. Collectively, their jaws dropped to the floor. He then told them, "Gentlemen, I have a problem and I need your help. How can I convince my client to not sue you for stealing one of her covers? How do I stop her from leaking this to the Wall Street Journal ?"

Kathy didn't want to sue anyone nor did she want to create any sensation in the media. She only wanted to get her author's books on the shelves . For her, picking the best lawyer possible was one of the smartest business moves she ever made. Her lawyer, in just one short visit, put an end to a situation that could have gone the wrong way in the hands of a less experienced attorney.

I l @ ve RuBoard


The 60-Second Commute. A Guide to Your 24.7 Home Office Life
The 60-Second Commute: A Guide to Your 24/7 Home Office Life
ISBN: 013130321X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 155

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