Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs A Lawyer On Retainer
As a small business owner, you likely don't see yourself ever ending up on the wrong side of the law. Unfortunately, no matter your intentions, there may arise situations where you still need legal advice. From setting up your business to dealing with a customer or employee complaint, the following are reasons why you may need to contract the services of a business litigation attorney.
Information
In the event something does land you in court, claiming that you didn't know a practice was illegal will not protect you from litigation. Whether it's inadvertently implementing an illegal employment practice or promising customers something you can't or won't deliver, a lawsuit is a real possibility. By having an attorney on retainer, you can run policies and even actions before them to check that you are on the right side of any legal requirements before implementing them. This can save you a lot of time and money, since you can avoid unnecessary lawsuits and court dates.
Contracts
Every business has document needs. The most obvious are employment contracts. It can be easy to think this is a task you can do on your own, especially with all the free and cheap legal forms available online. Unfortunately, this is an easy way to end up in litigation if you aren't careful. These generic online contracts may not meet state or local laws for employment contracts, which can be a problem. By having a lawyer on retainer to go over your contracts or to even help you draft them, you can avoid pitfalls that can lead to legal problems later. The same goes for any other type of legal document you may need in your business, from account agreements with customers to the lease you sign for your business property.
Document services
Finally, you need legal advice on any documents you sign. For example, when setting up or expanding your business, you may decide to change your business type. While the tax forms to do this are readily available from the IRS, there are many pitfalls when it comes to filling them out. You may also need to fill out further documentation. A business attorney will be able to help you to do this correctly.
Lawsuits
Many businesses have to face litigation at some point, either from an employee, a client, or a vendor. It could be a workplace injury, a contract dispute, problems with your service, or even refusal to pay a bill. You don't want to face a court date without legal counsel, so having a business litigation attorney on your side is a must.
For more help with business litigation, contact a business attorney office in your area.