Need an Attorney for your Business? A Guide to Selecting Carefully

Good Morning!

1. Feature: Need an Attorney for your Business? A Guide to Selecting Carefully 
   (5 min)

2. From the Archive: Your LLC Survival Guide for 2025 Read it here

3. Dear TCoL: New LLC owner needs help finding a CPA and attorney

Hit the ground running by structuring the week beforehand.

-TCoL

Missed our last feature article? High-Opportunity States and the Best Small Businesses to Start. Read it here

Whether you are looking for help to form your new company or you are already up and running and need specialized support such as raising capital or protecting intellectual property, this article is for you.

Attorneys are, generally, expensive. But a high hourly rate is no guarantee of competence or a willingness to devote time to your problems. Like other professionals including CPAs, engineers, and doctors, some attorneys are not taking new clients. Others lack the expertise you need. Many are simply too busy and should not be accepting additional work, even though some do.

So, how do you find an experienced attorney who will be dedicated to solving both your current and future problems? The answer is to search thoroughly and pick carefully. This guide gives you a framework to begin your search and make a sound decision.

How to Begin

Quick Start

The best place to begin is not an online directory. It is your existing professional and personal network.

• Ask your CPA. Your CPA already knows you, your business, and your financial situation. They regularly work with many local attorneys. If you trust their judgement, they are the best first step.

• Ask another business owner. If you do not have a CPA you rely on, go to a business owner you respect. Ask them who they use for legal work.

• Ask for the next referral. If you meet with a recommended attorney and they cannot help you, ask them who they would recommend. A good attorney is usually generous with referrals to other competent attorneys.

Referrals are often the best way to start. But do not stop there. Even with a trusted referral, you still need to conduct independent research.

Experience and Background Matter

Attorneys, like doctors, tend to specialize. The lawyer who drafted your friend’s real estate purchase agreement may not be the right person to help you raise venture capital. A litigator who spends their days in court may not be the best choice to negotiate with investors.

This does not mean you need a big-firm attorney. Many excellent solo practitioners and small-firm attorneys have deep expertise. What matters is that the attorney you hire has meaningful experience with the type of work you need.

Research Tools That Work

The internet is full of directories and “Top Lawyer” rankings. Many are pay-to-play. Focus instead on the sources lawyers use when checking backgrounds of their adversaries or when looking for experienced co-counsel for a valued client.

1. Your State Bar Association
   Every state has a bar association website. Attorneys use it and so should you. Use it to verify the basics: contact information, areas of practice, board certifications such as “Certified in Construction Law,” and disciplinary history. You will also see whether the attorney is in good standing. This is the best way to confirm status and legitimacy before you go further.

Pro Tip: We suggest that you do not start with the Bar’s lawyer referral service. We will cover that later.

2. Martindale-Hubbell
   Established in 1868, Martindale is one of the oldest and most trusted attorney rating services. Most attorneys are listed, and the service assigns peer-reviewed ratings. Aim for lawyers with an AV Preeminent (top) or BV Distinguished rating. These indicate strong competence and ethical standards, as recognized by other attorneys.
   Search Martindale-Hubbell here.

3. Chambers USA
   Chambers is one of the most respected legal ranking organizations in the world. Its process is rigorous, based on in-depth research, peer interviews, and client feedback. Only a fraction of attorneys qualify, but if you find someone ranked here, you have likely found a solid attorney and specialist in a particular field.
   Search Chambers USA here.

4. State Bar Lawyer Referral Services
   If referrals and research come up short, your state bar association likely offers a lawyer referral service. Attorneys who sign up for these programs often use them to build their practice. That does not mean they are unqualified. Cross-check a referral-service attorney on Martindale before hiring, just like any other attorney.

Pro Tips From Experience

• Do not overlook estate planning attorneys. Many clients assume these lawyers only draft wills and trusts. In reality, most estate planning attorneys handle LLC formations, have strong tax knowledge, and are some of the best legal drafters in the profession. If your issue involves LLC formation or governance, succession planning, or tax-sensitive agreements, an estate planning attorney may be an excellent fit.

• Study the engagement letter carefully. Your attorney’s engagement letter is a sample of their drafting skill. If it is confusing or sloppy, consider that a warning sign. Poorly written documents at the start may indicate how their legal work will look.

• Watch the retainer request. Upfront retainers are common, but they should be reasonable and tied to the scope of work. A demand for an unusually large retainer without clear justification is a red flag.

• Set a deadline for new work. For a new engagement, always request a timeline. Attorneys often have heavy caseloads, and without a clear deadline your work may slip down the priority list. A deadline at the outset helps set expectations and accountability. Request one and then calendar it with the attorney.

• Look for a business background. Attorneys who earned undergraduate degrees in business or worked in business before law school often bring an added layer of practicality. They may better understand your concerns as a business owner and draft agreements that are not just legally sound but operationally useful.

• Look for litigation experience. Whether past or current, litigation experience helps mold great attorneys. Look for it.

After the Search: Engagement

Finding an attorney is only the first step. The engagement process matters too.

Attorney-Client Engagement Agreements

When you have identified a candidate, they will provide an engagement agreement. Read it carefully. These documents set the ground rules of your relationship. Some key points to pay attention to include:

• Scope of services. Make sure it clearly describes what the attorney will handle for you.

• Fee arrangements. Most attorneys bill hourly, but some may offer flat fees for specific services. Clarify billing practices, retainers, and payment schedules.

• Conflicts of interest. The agreement should disclose whether their law firm represents any other parties that could create a conflict with your business interests.

• Termination clause. You should understand how either party can end the relationship.

Do not hesitate to ask questions. A great attorney will welcome them.

Additional Practical Tips

• Meet in person or by video before deciding. Chemistry matters. You want an attorney you can talk to openly.

• Test responsiveness. Send an email or leave a voicemail before signing. How quickly do they or their staff respond? This is an indicator of what you can expect later.

• Check references. If you are hiring for a long-term or high-stakes matter, ask to speak with a current or former client.

• Start small. If you are unsure, hire the attorney for a limited project such as reviewing a contract before giving them more important work.

The Checklist

Here is a summary you can keep on hand:

1. Ask your CPA or a trusted business owner for a referral.

2. If needed, get a referral-of-a-referral.

3. Verify credentials with your state bar association.

4. Cross-check on Martindale-Hubbell and, if possible, Chambers USA.

5. Review all Pro Tips before making your choice.

6. If using a bar referral service, double-check the attorney’s background.

7. Review the engagement agreement carefully.

8. Start with a smaller project.

Summation

Choosing an attorney is one of the most important decisions you will make for your business. A poor fit can quickly drain money and time. A strong fit can protect your company, save you from costly mistakes, and give you a trusted advisor for years to come.

Start with referrals, do your research, pay attention to the details of the engagement, and do not rush the process. The attorney you select today will help shape your business tomorrow.

Dear TCoL: New LLC owner needs help finding a CPA and attorney

Question: I am a new Florida LLC owner and need help finding a CPA and attorney. I am struggling to do so. Can you help me find both? Do you charge a fee?

Answer: Yes and no. We regularly help find both for our free and Premium subscribers and don’t charge a fee. To do it the right way, it does take quite a bit of time. See our article above concerning attorneys.

If we perform a search for you and you’re a free subscriber, we ask that you consider subscribing to Premium if you are happy with our customer service. That way, you not only get a new CPA or attorney, you get access to The Co. Letter’s template library of professionally prepared documents that help you form, govern, and run your LLC. All for $7.95/month or $85.86/year. Upgrade to Premium.

BTW

1. We do not accept referral fees from CPAs and attorneys that we refer.

2. We will need some basic details from you about your business to help us match you with the right CPA or attorney. For example, if you need a CPA for an audit, it is a much different referral than a CPA that routinely handles S elections for LLCs. Same for attorneys. If you need a referral for someone to draft a customer service agreement, that likely is not going to be the same attorney we recommend to help you collect a business debt.

3. We will try and get you to the right professional for your situation, but we do not and cannot promise or guarantee their performance or work.

4. Be patient: it can take time for us to get in touch with a potential CPA or attorney. 

Ready to get started? Email us at [email protected].

Have an interesting business question and need a free bit of advice? Send your question to [email protected]. No confidential info, please!