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​Whether it's setting up a business, real estate transactions or any other legal issue, there is a need for an expert and experienced attorney. Choosing the right one can be time-consuming but it is extremely vital. You are going to trust that person by providing your personal as well as professional information. There are numerous lawyers and selecting the proper one is often discouraging.
 
Much like choosing a doctor, you should choose your lawyer according to your need. While choosing a person for your legal issues, you must go the extra mile. Before committing to anyone you should check out these points so that you won't regret it later.
 
1.Area of expertise 

You have to make sure that the lawyer you are going to hire is an expert in that area of law which you want. There are many areas of practice in the law field, and lawyers are working on the specific area. The specialized lawyer has more knowledge and working experience and he is more likely to handle your issue potentially. Some cover property, family, real estate, business, criminal and civil rights law.
 
2. Ask for referrals

You have to ask for referrals from the people to whom they had worked before. Ask your friends or family who have worked with any lawyer, personal connections are so valuable. Check out the online resources which can provide information about the lawyer. After collecting the names of lawyers, make a list then look out for all these points. If a  lawyer covers all the points then go ahead. Choosing an attorney is very crucial so give it some time and look wisely.
 
3.Regional lawyer

Laws vary from state to state and the regional lawyer has more knowledge about that area where you live. A lawyer should be known of the legal requirements of that area so that you develop a face to face relation. Someone familiar with your region has a better knowledge of local procedures and laws. Local area lawyers will understand your condition more perfectly and will provide you the right solution by working hard on it.
 
4. Choose the right law firm

Choosing the right law firm can affect your decision as well. There are small, large and medium size firms. If you have any small issue then you should go for small firms as they are less expensive and more personal. While, if you have any big issue then big firms can tackle it better but they are expensive yet have more resources and well established.
 
5. Communication

A lawyer should be a good communicator who talks to you nicely and provides the solutions for your problems. A lawyer should also be good to communicate with the adversaries. Always mention your preferred form of communication and fix the time. A good attorney always guides you with advantages and disadvantages of any legal action. Also, the lawyer should take time to advise complicated problems and provide many ways before taking any action.
 

6. The legal team

Yes, the team of the attorney is also a vital part in which you have to be careful. Many lawyers work alone and on other hand some have their team. You have to make sure who is handling your files as it will impact on the cost and service quality. Always ask who is working on your case and communicate to let them know about your case.
 
7. Potential costs

It is important to know how much your lawyer will charge you for the services as it can be expensive. Big law firms are expensive as they have more potential but small firms charge less amount. So, clarify the cost that you are going to pay. Also, discuss that when you have to pay means the duration of billing. The cost is the king of your decision. It depends on how much you want to pay and how much the lawyer wants to charge so always discuss the billing process. If you are paying for the right lawyer then you will worth it.
 
8. Right experience

You want to make sure that the attorney has the right experience in your area of problem. You have to never compromise on the issue when selecting the attorney. Lawyers improve their work by working with more cases. So, it will be better to hire an experienced and specialist lawyer rather than a non experienced yet. Remember, a lawyer with experience will charge more but if you are choosing the right one then there is no harm.
 
9. Compatible enough

While considering all the above points, you should also pay attention to the character of the person. A trustworthy and mutual understandable lawyer will make you feel comfortable. A lawyer who is thoughtful and works hard for you is the best. A lawyer who has a good history with his clients then it's great to deal. Someone who is arrogant and annoying will irritate you and thereby you will not win the case.
 
10. Clarify responsibilities

In a large law firm you can't directly connect with the lawyer because many paralegals are working there. In a small law firm you can directly contact the lawyer and that is a bonus point. Or, if you want to hire a large firm then ask the contact attorney which individual attorney is responsible for your case and communicate with them. You should also ask about which attorneys will work on your case till the end.

Bottom line
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​Pay more attention while choosing a lawyer and there are many factors which can affect it. Experienced and well communicated lawyer is a way to go. While, expertise area, checking references and choosing a regional lawyer and right firm should be considered. Having good mutual relations and asking for fees will make a win-win situation for both.  

​No matter who you are, you will make mistakes at some point in your business life. Unfortunately the law is not very forgiving - ignorance is not a defence. In this section, we have compiled some of the common legal pitfalls to watch out for when setting up your own business.

• Partnerships 
  A partnership is formed when two or more parties form to start a business, sharing the workload and investing capital to get things going. It is always wise to have a written partnership agreement and get it checked by a solicitor. If you do not have a proper agreement and it all goes wrong, the partnership will be covered by the Partnership Act, whose provisions may not always seem fair. 
  
  For example, under it partners can withdraw without giving notice. This could mean they insist on the immediate return of their capital and the business may be forced to close down as a result. If you do not however, have an agreement you may be liable for all sorts of costs and you have no legal standing. It is very important to make sure all of your agreements are legal and will withstand in a court of law.

• Clarify Relationships 
  You can find yourself in a partnership without realising it, for example, if you run a business with somebody but don't employ them, this often happens with husbands and wives or other family members. In a partnership, each partner is responsible for business debts incurred by other partners and there is no limit to their liability.

• Put Everything in Writing 
  I cannot stress enough how important it is to have everything in writing. If things go wrong you have no legal standing without some form of documentation (which includes all correspondence), contracts are the basis of all business relationships. A contract will include four key components: Consideration, an obligation to pay or a promise to provide something in return for something of value. Certainty, the contract must clearly state what is expected of all parties. The intention to be legally bound and an offer and an acceptance. However, contracts can be oral and it isn't always clear when one has been made. 
  
  Confirm every agreement in writing so everyone knows where they stand. What is the brief? Who will pay? When? How much? Are expenses included? What are the acceptance criteria? Who will own copyright? It is important that all aspects are covered and that there are no grey areas.

• Make Sure all Employees Have a Contracts 
  It is very important to have a contract of employment in place from day one for all employees. Make sure that all new employees are entitled to work in this country, or you could face heavy penalties. The contracts act to protect both parties.

• Know your Employment Laws 
  Employment laws in this country are very precise on what you can and cannot do. Before you fire someone, make them redundant or change their terms and conditions of employment, take legal advice. If you don't, you could find yourself open to claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination or breach of contract. Also warn employees that discrimination, sexual harassment and other illegal acts will not be tolerated.

• The Importance of Health & Safety 
  If you fail to carry out your health and safety obligations you may face prosecution, your insurance premiums may rise and you may find difficulty in obtaining insurance altogether. In the worst cases your business may be closed until you adhere to the Health & Safety laws. Information packs are available from the Health & Safety Executive which will outline your legal requirements. The Government are legally entitled to carry out spot checks on your premises at any time.

• Make Sure you are Insured
  Insurance is vital from a financial viewpoint. There are also legal requirements for employer's and public liability insurance. If you sell products, product liability insurance will protect you if someone injured by a defect in your product successfully sues you.

• Are you Covered? 
  Many people find it hard to imagine that work they have done will result in a claim for hundreds of thousands of pounds. However, most people only contribute a link in a chain, so the effects of a mistake can be out of all proportion to their individual contribution. If you offer services or advice you must get adequate professional indemnity insurance. Indemnity cover is needed for years after the work has been done, because it has to cover when the claim is made. Failure to do this will leave you open to claims that may make you bankrupt!

• Terms and Conditions 
  If you don't spell out in black and white your terms and conditions of trade (T&Cs) you are giving you customers the license to pay you when they feel like it. And if they go into liquidation before paying you, you may not be able to reclaim your goods if you do not have a Retention of Title clause in your Terms & Condition’s. Draft some suitable Terms & Condition’s for your business and ask a solicitor to check them. You must ensure your customer agrees to them, and ideally, signs them when placing an order.

• Read the Small Print 
  Read all loan and overdraft agreements carefully to ensure you understand what you are letting yourself in for. Be very wary of signing personal guarantees. Banks often seek to over secure' their lending. Once you have signed any paperwork you will be legally bound to any terms and conditions that are set out in the small print, no matter how unreasonable they may be. It is imperative that you read all small print before signing anything.

• Get Everything In Writing

Legal disputes, lawsuits and false claims can ruin your business or even bankrupt it. On top of that the negative publicity is detrimental to your brand.
Make sure you have written agreements for everything it is time well spent.