Do I Need a Lawyer?
You need an attorney if...
- You want to protect your intellectual property
- You are going to sell, lease, license or market your or someone else's product
- You need guidance in forming, maintaining and operating your business as a legal entity and protecting yourself from the legal risks of business
- Things just haven't worked out and you're facing or have to make a claim
- You want to minimize your internal staffing requirements
- You would rather spend your time on your product and on your market than on legal and administrative quicksand
Breaking it down
The real question is what kind of attorney you need. The answer is: An attorney who understands things not just from the legal, but from the business perspective. You need someone who will work with you, not as some distant, remote "expert" but as a fully integrated member of your team. I will address your legal matters and free you to concentrate on your product and your market.
Most of the time, the question of "Do I need a lawyer?" is an easy one to answer: when you've been arrested or charged with a crime, or when you've been served with a lawsuit. However, people often hire attorneys for expertise or advice in many difference situations. The first question you may want to ask yourself is not if you need a lawyer, but what is at stake in your current situation. If your liberties or finances are in question, the obvious answer is to hire an attorney. Setting your mind at ease, knowing you have an experienced and knowledgeable person in your corner, can be one of your greatest assets. Some areas where it may not be so obvious to hire a lawyer include negotiating business deals, pursuing personal family matters, drafting wills and trusts, as well as tax and estate planning. The bottom line is, it never hurts to talk to a lawyer.