Lawyers map
>2.5k
experienced lawyers
Filter by
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
4.0
7 Reviews
28 Apr, 2023 by Allie bayless
12 Oct, 2022 by Demetria hamilton
29 Jul, 2021 by Richard jones
15 Dec, 2023 by Rachel
She's a friendly down to earth person. I met with her in regards to an eviction but it wasn't your typical landlord tenant eviction. I hired the same day I met with her. She was understanding & sounded like she was on top of things. Then a situation came about in regards to the eviction causing it to not be just a simple eviction process. I emailed her & then spoke with her on the phone the same day i hired her letting her know of a letter I had received in the mail. She said she needed a little more time then 30 seconds to process everything, which is understandable & she said she would get ahold of me. Days went by & I had emailed her & tried to call her & heard nothing back from her. This went on for a couple weeks at least. I totally get that I wasn't her only client & her time wasn't devoted to only me & that she was probably busy. It just would have been nice if she would have at least emailed me back to let me know she was going to need more time or let me know something instead of leaving me hanging. I finally decided to just ask for my money back. She then emailed letting me know she could mail me a check or i could pick it up! Kinda irritating that she could email for that but not respond with anything to my emails or phone calls. I was really looking forward to her representing me in the beginning because I loved her attitude, ways of thinking & I just felt comfortable with her. She did give me all of my money back without a problem!
Read more
26 Jan, 2023 by Emily
The first time we called she answered the phone with a bad attitude. We hired Diane and asked her to wait on setting court date and sending evictions and she sent them out anyways. We wanted to wait for the abandonment paperwork to work and she did not respect that at all. We talked to her a total of 16 minutes and she charged us $500. Claimed we would get a full refund if we didn’t need her and then she went and made her self needed by doing whatever she wanted anyways and then went back on her word. She is the worst attorney I have ever heard from and I would NOT recommend going through her firm! Even other lawyers called her highly unprofessional because when she was called out she sent very rude emails out to them as well! Seriously don’t waste your time!
Read more
13 Dec, 2021 by Matt
A few years ago, a much younger man attempted to romance-scam my 85-year-old mother and attempted to obtain a POA over her assets. Diane's advice was invaluable and prevented much greater disaster from occurring. She walked me through all the difficult steps to obtain guardianship and stood beside me in those tense moments before the judge. I owe her a very great debt.
Read more
25 Jul, 2023 by Anonymous
Justin Butler represented the developer of our subdivision and handled the transition of the homeowners association from developer to homeowners. once the homeowners took over the homeowners association, It was brought to our attention by a separate legal counsel that we were missing the bylaws for our incorporation, even though Mr. Butler specifically referenced attached bylaws within the documents he provided to us. Our team has reached out on multiple occasions, requesting these documents to which he does not respond in writing however, on a recorded phone call, he does acknowledge that he forgot these documents and he was going to write them over that weekend and have us to us the following week. sure enough, he never followed through on that and has continued to be unresponsive to additional communication. Funds were taken from our account to pay for this service that was never properly completed.
Read more
19 Mar, 2014 by Barry
Justin has helped me on numerous occasions with my business. I trust him completely. Although he is over 50 miles away, I wouldn't use anyone else. I live in Kirkwood and have hundreds of attorneys that are closer.
Read more
10 Mar, 2014 by Neal
Has handled everything personally for me from speeding tickets to legal advice on my business and has always been helpful and to the point.
Read more
10 Nov, 2023 by Bridget townes
This attorney was highly recommended and now I m wondering why, phone was never answered when I would call in, messages left were returned with a letter which followed a week or so later. I was asked to do the leg work a few times and when we would speak he was hurried and inattentive. A doctor almost killed me in November 2016, 7 months later he drops the case after previously telling us we definitely had a case. Dr. Kevin Easley has had 5 malpractice and 2 wrongful deaths in less than 10 years ago. Preston didn't care about that or the pain and suffering my husband and I endured. So not glad he wasted 7 months we could have had a legit attorney work on this. I could go on but, the gist is he was horrible and if I could I would give him a big ZERO stars. Thanks Preston for wasting 7 months of our time, you should have said up front if I was not damaged permanently you wouldn't take the case, guess you weren't going to make enough $$$$.
Read more
22 Aug, 2023 by Tyler pullam
shannon is like the best like forreal.
Read more
22 Aug, 2023 by Rhiannon hall
Shannon truly goes above and beyond when it comes to handling cases. She's smart, keeps you updated during the entire case, and relentlessly works to get you compensated. I wouldn't want any other attorney to handle any personal injury case I might have.
Read more
22 Aug, 2024 by Christina
I can't recall the last time I dealt with a business or individual that was as outstanding as Bruce Secrist and his Paralegal, Avin. My parents had passed away without ever making any estate/beneficiary plans. I had no idea the size of the "estate", if there was any money or assets to pay debts, my brother and I knew nothing. I called two attorney's offices and left messages with the details, they never called me back. I called Bruce Secrist's office and he not only called me back within an hour, he gave me excellent advice. It was 2020, Covid, and I was living in Florida. We opened an estate and Bruce handled it for us right to the end. We had to deal with the IRS and 5 years of unfiled taxes, missing money Bruce recaptured for us and three vehicles that needed titles and Bruce went to the DMV and stood in line and handled everything. He was a GOD SEND. TIP: Protect your assets and your family and have a plan with an attorney that knows what to do to protect you. If you need someone SHARP, active and engaged - Bruce Secrist is the attorney. He and Avin are an amazing team of professionals. They communicate, follow up, and know what you're talking about when you call. The estate wasn't worth hardly anything and they treated us like it was their only case. If you're in SouthWest Missouri and need an Estate Attorney, Bruce Secrist should be your first call!
Read more
11 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
I feel like there are plenty other attorneys in Joplin that do a better job than Bruce Secrist. He did an adequate job on my divorce/custody...but was I overwhelmingly pleased? No. He just doesn't really seem to care about you as a client or even a person. I found him devoid of all personality altogether. Our second time retaining him was an utter disaster. He took our money and did very little to resolve our case. We ended up hiring someone else.
Read more
23 Mar, 2017 by Jordan
I used Bruce in 97'-2014. He was great and helped me with my child custody issues. He also helped me with many other things. I also referred him to friends that he also helped out tremdously. He's fair and straight to the point no hidden fees like most.
Read more
23 Jun, 2024 by Russell grafton
I went here to fill out my paperwork for disability. The ladies in this office were a big help and very courteous. I was very impressed by the way I was treated.
Read more
01 Jun, 2024 by Colin schwartz
If zero was an option I’d select that. Dennis is an incompetent lawyer. Wasted years of my life and got me nothing. Thank you for using the medical evidence in court that would have won the case. If you use this lawyer. You’ve been warned. He is a bad lawyer
Read more
31 May, 2024 by Kevin eisenhauer
Not nice at all. The secretary was rude. Dennis was also very rude when he called back. All I wanted was information.
Read more
4.0
81 Reviews
23 Jun, 2024 by Russell grafton
I went here to fill out my paperwork for disability. The ladies in this office were a big help and very courteous. I was very impressed by the way I was treated.
Read more
01 Jun, 2024 by Colin schwartz
If zero was an option I’d select that. Dennis is an incompetent lawyer. Wasted years of my life and got me nothing. Thank you for using the medical evidence in court that would have won the case. If you use this lawyer. You’ve been warned. He is a bad lawyer
Read more
31 May, 2024 by Kevin eisenhauer
Not nice at all. The secretary was rude. Dennis was also very rude when he called back. All I wanted was information.
Read more
4.0
81 Reviews
23 Jun, 2024 by Russell grafton
I went here to fill out my paperwork for disability. The ladies in this office were a big help and very courteous. I was very impressed by the way I was treated.
Read more
01 Jun, 2024 by Colin schwartz
If zero was an option I’d select that. Dennis is an incompetent lawyer. Wasted years of my life and got me nothing. Thank you for using the medical evidence in court that would have won the case. If you use this lawyer. You’ve been warned. He is a bad lawyer
Read more
31 May, 2024 by Kevin eisenhauer
Not nice at all. The secretary was rude. Dennis was also very rude when he called back. All I wanted was information.
Read more
23 Jun, 2024 by Russell grafton
I went here to fill out my paperwork for disability. The ladies in this office were a big help and very courteous. I was very impressed by the way I was treated.
Read more
01 Jun, 2024 by Colin schwartz
If zero was an option I’d select that. Dennis is an incompetent lawyer. Wasted years of my life and got me nothing. Thank you for using the medical evidence in court that would have won the case. If you use this lawyer. You’ve been warned. He is a bad lawyer
Read more
31 May, 2024 by Kevin eisenhauer
Not nice at all. The secretary was rude. Dennis was also very rude when he called back. All I wanted was information.
Read more
4.0
81 Reviews
23 Jun, 2024 by Russell grafton
I went here to fill out my paperwork for disability. The ladies in this office were a big help and very courteous. I was very impressed by the way I was treated.
Read more
01 Jun, 2024 by Colin schwartz
If zero was an option I’d select that. Dennis is an incompetent lawyer. Wasted years of my life and got me nothing. Thank you for using the medical evidence in court that would have won the case. If you use this lawyer. You’ve been warned. He is a bad lawyer
Read more
31 May, 2024 by Kevin eisenhauer
Not nice at all. The secretary was rude. Dennis was also very rude when he called back. All I wanted was information.
Read more
10 Sep, 2024 by Mary powers
It's with great disappointment that I have to write this review. We used Doug previously and he was able to achieve a settlement on our behalf, albeit a small one in comparison to what we believe we deserved. After he got paid, communication completely discontinued. We received a 1099 that included the money he was paid. We had to pay taxes on this. It was not insignificant. We reached out to him about this. No response. We also contacted him in regards to another potential claim. No response.
Unfortunately, it's our opinion that his law firm is a perfect example of "take the money and run." Absolutely no communication after they got their money.
Sad. It's especially sad because we were treated like friends all the way up to the settlement. 100% fake.
Read more
09 Sep, 2024 by Mo khosh
Professional, accessible and they treated me with respect. From the first moment I met Doug and Tina I knew I had made the right decision to have them represent me. Doug is very smart and experienced which is what we all want in our attorneys, but he also has a great personality and a great sense of humour. If I could give them 10 stars, I would.
Read more
08 Sep, 2024 by Melody demar
I was relieved when Tina Carter walked me through the process of my case. She was one of the first to apologize for what had happened to me. Tina and John never made me feel stupid nor acted as if I was wasting their time. They answered all of my questions and always got back to me if they were busy. Because of the way they treated my case and myself, I stuck it through. I would recommend them and if you want to be taken seriously, they will deliver.
Read more
10 Sep, 2024 by Mary powers
It's with great disappointment that I have to write this review. We used Doug previously and he was able to achieve a settlement on our behalf, albeit a small one in comparison to what we believe we deserved. After he got paid, communication completely discontinued. We received a 1099 that included the money he was paid. We had to pay taxes on this. It was not insignificant. We reached out to him about this. No response. We also contacted him in regards to another potential claim. No response.
Unfortunately, it's our opinion that his law firm is a perfect example of "take the money and run." Absolutely no communication after they got their money.
Sad. It's especially sad because we were treated like friends all the way up to the settlement. 100% fake.
Read more
09 Sep, 2024 by Mo khosh
Professional, accessible and they treated me with respect. From the first moment I met Doug and Tina I knew I had made the right decision to have them represent me. Doug is very smart and experienced which is what we all want in our attorneys, but he also has a great personality and a great sense of humour. If I could give them 10 stars, I would.
Read more
08 Sep, 2024 by Melody demar
I was relieved when Tina Carter walked me through the process of my case. She was one of the first to apologize for what had happened to me. Tina and John never made me feel stupid nor acted as if I was wasting their time. They answered all of my questions and always got back to me if they were busy. Because of the way they treated my case and myself, I stuck it through. I would recommend them and if you want to be taken seriously, they will deliver.
Read more
10 Sep, 2024 by Mary powers
It's with great disappointment that I have to write this review. We used Doug previously and he was able to achieve a settlement on our behalf, albeit a small one in comparison to what we believe we deserved. After he got paid, communication completely discontinued. We received a 1099 that included the money he was paid. We had to pay taxes on this. It was not insignificant. We reached out to him about this. No response. We also contacted him in regards to another potential claim. No response.
Unfortunately, it's our opinion that his law firm is a perfect example of "take the money and run." Absolutely no communication after they got their money.
Sad. It's especially sad because we were treated like friends all the way up to the settlement. 100% fake.
Read more
09 Sep, 2024 by Mo khosh
Professional, accessible and they treated me with respect. From the first moment I met Doug and Tina I knew I had made the right decision to have them represent me. Doug is very smart and experienced which is what we all want in our attorneys, but he also has a great personality and a great sense of humour. If I could give them 10 stars, I would.
Read more
08 Sep, 2024 by Melody demar
I was relieved when Tina Carter walked me through the process of my case. She was one of the first to apologize for what had happened to me. Tina and John never made me feel stupid nor acted as if I was wasting their time. They answered all of my questions and always got back to me if they were busy. Because of the way they treated my case and myself, I stuck it through. I would recommend them and if you want to be taken seriously, they will deliver.
Read more
10 Sep, 2024 by Mary powers
It's with great disappointment that I have to write this review. We used Doug previously and he was able to achieve a settlement on our behalf, albeit a small one in comparison to what we believe we deserved. After he got paid, communication completely discontinued. We received a 1099 that included the money he was paid. We had to pay taxes on this. It was not insignificant. We reached out to him about this. No response. We also contacted him in regards to another potential claim. No response.
Unfortunately, it's our opinion that his law firm is a perfect example of "take the money and run." Absolutely no communication after they got their money.
Sad. It's especially sad because we were treated like friends all the way up to the settlement. 100% fake.
Read more
09 Sep, 2024 by Mo khosh
Professional, accessible and they treated me with respect. From the first moment I met Doug and Tina I knew I had made the right decision to have them represent me. Doug is very smart and experienced which is what we all want in our attorneys, but he also has a great personality and a great sense of humour. If I could give them 10 stars, I would.
Read more
08 Sep, 2024 by Melody demar
I was relieved when Tina Carter walked me through the process of my case. She was one of the first to apologize for what had happened to me. Tina and John never made me feel stupid nor acted as if I was wasting their time. They answered all of my questions and always got back to me if they were busy. Because of the way they treated my case and myself, I stuck it through. I would recommend them and if you want to be taken seriously, they will deliver.
Read more
21 Nov, 2023 by Christian schulte
Scott is a great Attorney, filed my bankruptcy and was explained everything into detail. I would use him again if I had to.
Read more
30 Aug, 2023 by Sidney schilly
Very informative and helpful with filing bankruptcy. All the staff helps walk you through the steps with patience and understanding. Highly recommend!
Read more
22 Apr, 2023 by Tara mcginley
24 Apr, 2022 by Darren white
05 Apr, 2022 by Roxana orellana
18 Mar, 2021 by Missy bkillingit
24 Apr, 2022 by Darren white
05 Apr, 2022 by Roxana orellana
18 Mar, 2021 by Missy bkillingit
23 Nov, 2019 by Beverly deschepper
The prices are very good
Read more
14 Sep, 2024 by Drop a nuke boi's
Jennifer Oswald Brown was a court appointed Guardian Ad Litem in my divorce. She is absolutely a horrible attorney. Her recommendations for my son were to live with his father whom abandoned us because of his drug addiction. He didn't even pass 10 panel drug test. This woman should not be practicing family law.
Read more
10 Jun, 2024 by Tony marolt
I have had two major family law interactions with Erin Mayfield Craig of Oswald Rew, LLC. Erin and her team - Ellen, Jamie, and Jan - have been fantastic to work with. The first engagement was to get more favorable educational, mental health, and physical health assistance and custody for my oldest grandson. He has been thriving. At every turn, Erin gave specific, leverageable legal advice on options to consider and strategies to pursue, ultimately resulting in a much improved condition for my grandson. Her staff was helpful whenever they were contacted. Erin knows the law and know the players in this area as well as the judicial systems. She has provided great insight on what to consider with younger siblings who have been misplaced in the custody of someone who has not been a reliable caregiver previously. Again, Erin has been very helpful in guiding the legal discourse and options to most highly consider. I highly, highly recommend this law practice. ERIN
Read more
19 Mar, 2024 by Steven craig
Great law firm!
Read more
20 Sep, 2024 by Yolanda pickett
Wasn't trying to give a 1 star i want to reach out to inform of our concerns why Noone communicate with my daughter the laywer suppose to reinsurance us not keep us in a limbo legal aid on forests park please help bring my grandson home PLEASE
Read more
20 Sep, 2024 by Yolanda pickett
My daughter has a case with you guys she has a laywer with you guys there's no communication we are left in a limbo Noone returning calls or emails I want my grandson back home if there's no commucation how do we suppose to feel how long do this custody count suppose to carrier on my daughter feel sad because Noone working in her favor my daughter is a good mom it seems there working with this felony we want to feel like the laywer working for us and it doesn't feel. Like it
Read more
13 Sep, 2024 by Jonathan penn
20 Sep, 2024 by Yolanda pickett
Wasn't trying to give a 1 star i want to reach out to inform of our concerns why Noone communicate with my daughter the laywer suppose to reinsurance us not keep us in a limbo legal aid on forests park please help bring my grandson home PLEASE
Read more
20 Sep, 2024 by Yolanda pickett
My daughter has a case with you guys she has a laywer with you guys there's no communication we are left in a limbo Noone returning calls or emails I want my grandson back home if there's no commucation how do we suppose to feel how long do this custody count suppose to carrier on my daughter feel sad because Noone working in her favor my daughter is a good mom it seems there working with this felony we want to feel like the laywer working for us and it doesn't feel. Like it
Read more
13 Sep, 2024 by Jonathan penn
20 Sep, 2024 by Yolanda pickett
Wasn't trying to give a 1 star i want to reach out to inform of our concerns why Noone communicate with my daughter the laywer suppose to reinsurance us not keep us in a limbo legal aid on forests park please help bring my grandson home PLEASE
Read more
20 Sep, 2024 by Yolanda pickett
My daughter has a case with you guys she has a laywer with you guys there's no communication we are left in a limbo Noone returning calls or emails I want my grandson back home if there's no commucation how do we suppose to feel how long do this custody count suppose to carrier on my daughter feel sad because Noone working in her favor my daughter is a good mom it seems there working with this felony we want to feel like the laywer working for us and it doesn't feel. Like it
Read more
13 Sep, 2024 by Jonathan penn
Browse lawyers
Cities in Missouri - Find a Lawyer Near Me
-
Saint Louis
-
Kansas City
-
Springfield
-
Clayton
-
Columbia
-
St. Louis
-
Lee's Summit
-
Chesterfield
-
Saint Charles
-
Jefferson City
-
Independence
-
Liberty
-
Cape Girardeau
-
Joplin
-
Saint Joseph
-
Saint Peters
-
Blue Springs
-
Hillsboro
-
Rolla
-
Branson
-
North Kansas City
-
Poplar Bluff
-
Ozark
-
O'Fallon
-
Creve Coeur
-
Webster Groves
-
Ballwin
-
Kirkwood
-
Sikeston
-
Town And Country
-
St. Charles
-
Troy
-
Union
-
Brentwood
-
Farmington
-
Gladstone
-
Hannibal
-
Arnold
-
Clinton
-
Kirksville
-
Osage Beach
-
West Plains
-
Jackson
-
Mexico
-
Washington
-
Fenton
-
Florissant
-
Platte City
-
Bridgeton
-
O Fallon
-
Raymore
-
Warrensburg
-
Lake Ozark
-
Bolivar
-
Fulton
-
Harrisonville
-
Manchester
-
Maryland Heights
-
Neosho
-
Carthage
-
Lake St. Louis
-
Lebanon
-
Sedalia
-
Caruthersville
-
Festus
-
Marshfield
-
Moberly
-
Waynesville
-
Belton
-
Des Peres
-
Kearney
-
Lexington
-
Parkville
-
St. Joseph
-
Butler
-
Cameron
-
Nixa
-
Doniphan
-
Maryville
-
Perryville
-
Town & Country
-
Camdenton
-
Ellisville
-
Hollister
-
Kennett
-
Nevada
-
Ste Genevieve
-
Chillicothe
Browse lawyers
Practice Areas in Missouri
-
Business
-
Personal Injury
-
Criminal Defense
-
Litigation
-
Real Estate
-
Family Law
-
Estate Planning
-
Workers Compensation
-
Car Accident
-
Probate
-
Medical Malpractice
-
Government
-
Appeals
-
Insurance
-
Intellectual Property
-
Consumer Protection
-
Wrongful Death
-
Tax
-
Child Custody
-
Adoption
-
Civil Rights
-
Elder Law
-
Child Support
-
Class Action
-
Trusts
-
Juvenile Law
-
Lawsuit / Dispute
-
Social Security & Disability
-
Debt Collection
-
Bankruptcy
-
Discrimination
-
Immigration
-
Mediation
-
Domestic Violence
-
Divorce
-
DUI / DWI
-
Federal Crime
-
Financial Markets And Services
-
Sex Crime
-
Wrongful Termination
-
Entertainment
-
Employment / Labor
-
Sexual Harassment
-
Foreclosure
-
Debt Settlement
-
Copyright Application
-
Drug Crime
-
Landlord & Tenant
-
Cannabis Law
-
Credit Repair
-
Life Insurance
-
Admiralty / Maritime
-
Construction
-
Education Law
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Business Lawyer Can Do for You
A business lawyer provides critical legal guidance and support to entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses. Whether you are forming a new company, drafting contracts, or navigating complex regulations, a business attorney ensures you are legally protected and operating within the law. They can also help prevent legal disputes or represent you in negotiations, transactions, or lawsuits that arise during the course of business operations.
Business lawyers have expertise in areas such as business formation, contract law, intellectual property, employment law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. They ensure that your business is compliant with relevant laws and help mitigate risks that could threaten your company's success.
When Should I Hire a Business Lawyer?
Hiring a business lawyer is essential at various stages of business development, including:
- Forming a business: When deciding on the best structure for your company (LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.), a lawyer can guide you through the registration and compliance process.
- Drafting contracts: If you need contracts for employees, partners, suppliers, or clients, a lawyer ensures these documents are legally sound and in your best interest.
- Mergers, acquisitions, or dissolutions: If you are buying, selling, or dissolving a company, legal counsel is critical to avoid costly mistakes.
- Compliance and regulatory issues: A lawyer can help navigate complex regulations, particularly in industries like healthcare, finance, or tech.
- Resolving disputes: Whether it's contract disagreements, intellectual property infringement, or employment issues, a business lawyer helps mediate, negotiate, or litigate on your behalf.
What Does a Business Lawyer Do?
Business lawyers provide a wide range of services that cater to different legal needs of a business. They can:
- Help you choose the best legal structure for your business.
- Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with employees, suppliers, customers, or business partners.
- Ensure regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
- Advise on tax strategies to minimize your business's tax burden.
- Assist with intellectual property protection, such as trademarks, patents, and copyrights.
- Handle mergers, acquisitions, and business sales, ensuring all legal paperwork is in order.
- Resolve disputes through negotiation, arbitration, or litigation.
How Are Business Lawyers Paid?
Business lawyers typically charge either by the hour or on a flat-fee basis, depending on the complexity of the work. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rates: The lawyer charges based on the time spent working on your case. Rates vary depending on the lawyer's experience and location.
- Flat fees: For certain tasks, such as incorporating a business or drafting a standard contract, a lawyer may offer a flat fee.
- Retainer: Some businesses may hire a lawyer on retainer, paying a fixed amount each month to have ongoing access to legal services.
The payment structure is often discussed during an initial consultation so you can choose the one that best suits your business needs and budget.
How Much Does a Business Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a business lawyer depends on factors such as:
- The complexity of the legal issue: More complex matters, like mergers or intellectual property disputes, typically cost more than routine tasks like contract drafting.
- The lawyer's experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in larger cities often charge higher fees.
- The nature of the billing arrangement: Hourly rates can range from $150 to $1,000 or more, depending on the lawyer's expertise. Flat fees are usually available for simpler matters like forming an LLC or drafting a standard contract.
It's essential to discuss fee structures upfront to avoid surprises.
Top Questions to Ask a Business Lawyer
Before hiring a business lawyer, ask the following questions during your consultation:
-
What is your experience with businesses like mine?
Find out if the lawyer has handled legal issues for companies in your industry. -
What services do you offer?
Ensure the lawyer can meet all your business's legal needs, from contract drafting to dispute resolution. -
What are your fees, and how do you bill?
Get clarity on how you'll be charged - whether by the hour, flat fee, or retainer. -
How do you handle conflicts of interest?
Ask how the lawyer ensures there is no conflict in representing your business. -
Can you provide references from other business clients?
Speaking with past clients will give you an idea of the lawyer's expertise and professionalism. -
Do you have experience in my specific industry?
Industry-specific knowledge can be crucial, especially in highly regulated fields like healthcare or finance.
How to Check the Credibility of a Business Lawyer
To ensure you're hiring a reputable business lawyer:
- Check state bar association records: Verify that the lawyer is in good standing and has no disciplinary actions against them.
- Look for client reviews or testimonials: Online reviews, testimonials, or word of mouth from other business owners can provide insight into the lawyer's reliability and effectiveness.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have satisfied clients who can vouch for their services.
- Check professional memberships: Membership in respected legal organizations (such as the American Bar Association or a local business lawyer association) can signal credibility.
- Review their website and professional profile: A well-established lawyer typically has a professional website showcasing their areas of expertise, credentials, and case success.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with a business lawyer, prepare the following:
- A description of your business and its structure: This will help the lawyer understand your legal needs.
- Any current contracts or agreements: If you're seeking contract advice, bring copies of existing contracts.
- A list of legal issues or concerns: Be ready to discuss any potential legal challenges, such as regulatory compliance, disputes, or transactions.
- Financial documents: If applicable, bring financial records related to the legal matter you're seeking help with.
- Questions about fees and billing: Ensure you understand the lawyer’s payment structure and fees upfront.
By preparing these materials, you can ensure that your first meeting with a business lawyer is productive and informative.
