Attorneys have greater strengths in specific fields, such as homes, small businesses, large businesses, injury, etc. This is why it is important to find the right attorney for your specific needs. From understanding the legal services to the role these services can have on your business, continue reading to help guide you to find the right attorney for your small business.
The attorneys who handled your home sale/purchase, or your parents’ estate, may not be a good fit for your small business needs. In other words, an attorney who represented you in a personal business matter may not be the attorney who can help you protect your business.
Small business owners represent a myriad of companies. In size, a small business may be run by a sole proprietor, be an LLC or corporation, or have several to several dozen employees.
Types of businesses run the gamut to include professional services, manufacturing, construction, retail, restaurants and more.
Just as diverse are types of the business’s legal matters that require the services of an attorney or attorneys.
The Importance of Small Business Legal Services for Companies
Most small business owners can handle basic legal documents, such as obtaining a business license or registering the business with their home state, including paying the required state filing fees.
When you get deeper into business legal matters, you will begin to need legal assistance. For example – and this is one of the most important legal issues – as a business owner you need to protect your intellectual property.
Licensed lawyers can help you with other specific legal matters, from the proper wording in your company employment forms and your employment handbook, to specific areas such as legally establishing your business formation (llc? partnership? corporation?) or obtaining building/operating permits.
Understanding Legal Services
Although legal needs can vary depending on business formation, size, type and location, there’s no denying that small business owners will need the services of an attorney.
At the beginning, legal needs can include registering the business name, registering an LLC, paying the required state fees (state fees vary by state) and choosing the business formation type of entity (llc, partnership, etc), and even legally dissolving an llc. The attorney can also be responsible for the annual timely payment of state fees.
If the small business is a corporation, an attorney can file articles of incorporation and also provide registered agent service. Registered agent service provided by the attorney includes being the contact person for legal documents received by certified mail.
Going forward, legal services provided can expand to include proper handling of employees’ issues, including hiring and firing, using recruitment services and obtaining workers compensation insurance. They may also dispel other insurance myths that could otherwise get you into legal trouble.
Legal help may also be needed to check the language of service agreements for equipment, such as machinery and computer equipment.
There are intangible benefits that a small business gains from legal assistance from licensed attorneys. You won’t have to lose time running your business by getting bogged down with legal work. Your business lawyer will handle any legal issues your company may have to negotiate.
The Role of a Law Firm in Providing Business Legal Services
Each lawyer at a law firm may do general work, but also have a specialty area, such as labor law or llc/corporate law.
One of the specialties for a lawyer is intellectual property law, which includes trademark services. The intellectual properties owned by small businesses include patents, copyright, trademarks and trade secrets. Trademark mistakes are a common malady for small businesses.
The Importance of Intellectual Property Protection
A lawyer who specializes in this field may also help you write a “non compete” agreement, which is another layer of legal protection for the business and its customers. Non compete legal plans can include agreements designed to preclude former employees from setting up shop nearby, and operating a similar business, which could lure customers from the original employer.
Another legal matter addressed in this field is protection of trade secrets, which can include manufacturing procedures, recipes, designs and more, as well as an ironclad website privacy policy.
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Original article published on smallbiztrends.com
