March 20, 2008
Not all attorneys are created equal
Fortunately for many people, hiring a lawyer is not something they do often. Many stagers I’ve met are reluctant to meet with an attorney, thinking that they can do everything they need themselves, or that nothing will happen to them that requires hiring an attorney. This is not a phenomenon unique to stagers – it happens across the board in small businesses. Reluctance to hire an attorney is understandable. Many people think that it will be too expensive, or that just by consulting an attorney they’re “jinxing” themselves and inviting litigation to come knocking on their door. Others know they can pick up any Yellow Pages and find hundreds (if not thousands) of lawyers listed, but are afraid that they will randomly pick the worst kind of shyster from the bunch.Not consulting with an attorney in forming your small business and drafting documents can be disastrous, though, and result in expenses far greater than the up-front preventive costs you might otherwise have incurred. Set aside an amount of money that you are willing to invest in consulting with an attorney. It doesn’t have to be a lot. Then, once you’ve found an attorney you trust, let him or her know your budget up front, and be clear that he or she is not to go over it. Most attorneys are very willing to work with your budget and will bend over backwards to accommodate your needs.
To find a good lawyer, there’s no need to hit the Yellow Pages and start dialing. First, ask friends and family for recommendations. This is your best bet at finding someone you’ll be compatible with and can trust. If, after asking around, you find that your circle of friends only knows of, say, divorce attorneys, that’s OK. You can call the recommended divorce attorney and ask for a referral to a good business attorney. Ethics rules in most places bar attorneys from getting referral fees, so you don’t need to worry that you’ll simply be referred to the highest bidder. Another way to find a good attorney is through your state’s bar association. Most states now have searchable databases of attorneys on the Internet. In these databases, you can often view the attorney’s specialties and whether or not they have any disciplinary actions. Also, don’t think you need to go with a big firm or a name you’ve heard of. Just like any profession, the one you’ve heard of is most likely the most expensive. Solo attorneys or those in small firms are likely just as qualified, if not more, to help you out.
Once you’ve found an attorney you’ll like working with, ask them if they know about staging. If they don’t, don’t rule them out – they can learn! It’s more important that they be knowledgeable about the law generally and willing to listen and learn about the nuances of your business. Finally, if after some time, you find that you don’t like your attorney after all, you can always find a new one. Nothing says you have to stick with the same person, or even see the same person for all of your business issues. It’s OK to shop around!
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