Legal Question in Business Law in Minnesota

Re: Business

1st Question:

DO they have a CLUE?

Experience in representing business owners would be the primary question.

Have you already purchased a business or is this a true start-up?

Leasing or buying building?

I have 25 years of Business Law experience. Check website for more info.www.ebizlaw.com

Re: Business

First, understand that there are a lot of lawyers who can do a good job for you. There are also a lot of potential clients out there, so you and your potential lawyer should look at this as if you are each interviewing each other to decide on a long-term relationship. With this outlook in mind, I (and other lawyers) do not charge for an initial conference because it is a "get to know you" opportunity that allows each side to decide if this is a "good fit". You should have such conferences with a few lawyers; kind of like shopping for a car: you don't buy the first one you test drive.

You should ask whether the lawyer currently and in the past has represented night clubs or bars, how many and in what capacity (i.e. licensing, real estate and leases, labor, structure and organization, contract negotiation and disputes, etc.). The lawyer should be responsive to these questions, but generally should not offer names of specific clients (would you want the lawyer to tell others that you are his client?).

It's also helpful to know if the lawyer has had experience representing or working with some of the types of organizations you will be dealing with (commercial landlords, liquor wholesalers, cities, ad agencies, etc.).

These days, you're likely to run into issues that raise a combination of legal questions and considerations of local politics (associated with licensing). It's good to find a lawyer who understands this, has some experience in this regard and has an approach you are comfortable with (for example; does he like to take an aggressive approach with a city, implying a threat to sue if a city does not negotiate favorably with you, or does he take a more low-key approach, working in the background as much as possible and looking for compromises).

The actual location of the lawyer's office relative to your business is not as important as it once was. Most things can be handled with phone, e-mail and FAX. It's not always good for the lawyer to be located in the city of your business: he may be reluctant to do things that make him unpopular with city government.

Please e-mail me if you have further questions.

Re: Business

1) Learn about your legal issues.

2)Find out what kind of clients the attorney represents

3) Use search engines to search for the name of the lawyer and his law firm. Can you find any articles, FAQ�s or other informational pieces that the lawyer has done

4) Contact your state bar association or visit their Web site to find out if the lawyer is in good standing.

5) Contact the attorney�s firm and ask to schedule a consultation. Some firms will charge a consultation to meet with you (my office DOES NOT), so expect to pay anywhere from $75.00 to $250.00 for an initial consultation.

The consultation with the lawyer is the most important factor in your decision to hire an attorney.

At a minimum, both the lawyer and his staff should treat you courteously and professionally.

Ask for a copy of the lawyer�s retainer agreement and review it with the lawyer beforehand. Generally speaking, attorneys will charge for their services in one or more of the following ways:

-By the hour

-On a contingency fee basis

-Flat fee

Finally, use your common sense and gut instincts in deciding who to hire. Your relationship can last several years and will involve a good working relationship and trust. You want to choose the best lawyer who you think will do the best job for you.

Please call me with any other questions you may have.

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