How to Start Working with a Business Attorney

Many of my new clients are nervous. They don’t know exactly what I can do for them, and are afraid of how much it will cost.

Here are some tips on how to work with a business attorney.

Gather all the formation documents relating to your business/businesses.

For a Corporation, this means: articles of incorporation, organizational meeting minutes, bylaws, stock certificates, subscription agreements, shareholders agreements, and minutes of any other meetings.

For an LLC, this means: articles of organization and the operating agreement.

Also gather any form contracts you use or other documents you have quetions about.

If you don’t have these, you are not alone! The attorney can help you create these documents.
Write down a list of questions you have for the attorney. This can be limited to your legal matters, but can also include the attorney’s background, expertise, style, pricing, etc.
Find an attorney. Ask your friends and family with similar sized businesses who they recommend. The North Carolina Bar Association has a lawyer referral service that can pair you with a business attorney. Ask your accountant, commercial insurance agent or banker for recommendations.
Look at the firm’s website. Check that the attorney represents businesses in your industry, size, growth stage, etc. If you are a small retail store or white-collar consultant, you may not be a good fit for a firm that does angel financing, crowd-sourcing and private placement securities offerings.
Call the attorney for an initial consultation and ask if there is a fee for this. Understand how long the consultation is and when billing will kick in.