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There are plenty of times when an entrepreneur might need to hire a lawyer. When you start your business, a lawyer can help you decide on the right structure and avoid making any mistakes. Lawyers can ensure you follow the law while running your business and help you out if you get into any trouble. If you need to hire a lawyer for any reason, knowing how to work with them in a way that helps both of you is important. If you can make their job easier, they can do it better and ensure you get what you need. Here’s what you can do for them, and what they should do for you in return.
Give Them the Information They Need
Your lawyer can’t do their job if you don’t provide them with the essential information. If they ask you for a document, to fill out a form or to sign a contract, get them what they need as soon as you can. If they need to know something about how your business operates or an incident that happened, you should be open and honest about everything. In return, your lawyer should keep any information you give them safe. They should use legal document management services to keep everything secure. And, obviously, they should be using the information you give them to do their best work.
Do What They Ask You To
If your lawyer tells you to do something, it’s for a good reason. And that reason is to help you comply with the law or perhaps to get you the best deal. Listening to your lawyer, especially if you’re in any kind of legal trouble, is essential. They’re the law expert, and they know what they’re doing. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to ask questions or understand why they want you to do something. Sometimes they might simply be advising you, rather than giving you directions. They should be willing to listen to you too.
Stay in Touch
It can be very frustrating when someone takes a long time to get back to you. There are many situations when it’s important to get in touch with someone as soon as you’re able, rather than putting it off. Your lawyer’s time is valuable, so you should be respectful and respond to any contact as soon as possible. The sooner they hear from you, the faster they can do their job. In return, they should respect your time by being available and responding to you quickly too.
Pay Promptly
Just like with any service, you should pay for the legal services you receive promptly and fairly. If you’re sent an invoice, follow the instructions to pay on time. It’s important to keep on top of your cashflow and finances to ensure you can pay for the services you use. Your lawyer should be open and honest about what they charge and how they price their services.
A good relationship with your lawyer will make it easier to work with them. So try not to make their job more difficult than it needs to be.
