Getting the right legal advice
Many business start-ups will not find a business solicitor because they think business legal advice is likely to be expensive. What some small business entrepreneurs fail to consider is how expensive it could be if they don’t get the right business lawyer…
It pays to get proper legal advice from a commercial solicitor right from the outset, as prevention is definitely better than cure. If you are in business, or about to set one up, advice from a business solicitor can help identify potential risks to protect you before they become a problem. And the good news is that good business legal advice doesn’t have to be expensive and in many cases you can get an initial consultation with a qualified UK solicitor for no charge.
For free initial legal help and legal advice call Contact Law today on 0800 1777 162.
Find a solicitor now rather than after you have a dispute
Some companies will get proper legal advice for their business from the start or on an on-going basis as part of a general risk assessment process. Others will wait until they have a problem or a dispute to resolve. If you dont know of a good business solicitor, or where to find one in a hurry when you need one, it might be prudent to find a solicitor now before your business is put at risk.
What a business solicitor can do for your business
A business solicitor can provide help and professional legal advice on a number of topics:
- Insurance: the legal business insurance requirements and other optional insurances you might want to consider
- Legal contracts and contract clauses, both those you need to have to protect your own business, and advice on legal contracts presented to your business
- Business premises: consideration of where to operate from, restrictions on using your home for your business, lease terms and conditions
- Employment law and handling disputes, employment contracts and employee contract terms and conditions
- General business terms and conditions, including sale terms and conditions
- Website terms and conditions: terms of using the website, privacy statements, data protection and e-commerce regulations
- Intellectual property law: help with registering trademarks and intellectual property, protection of copyright, patents
A business lawyer can also provide legal advice on the best trading status for your business, how to keep taxes to a minimum and on other financial matters. However, you may wish to consider consulting a qualified accountant on these matters.
For free initial legal help and legal advice call Contact Law today on 0800 1777 162.
Finding the right business solicitor
There are two key reasons why it may be difficult for small businesses to find the right legal help and legal advice:
- The uniqueness of each company and the legal services it requires
- The difficulty in evaluating the expertise, customer service levels and price of a solicitor
Traditionally, many businesses have chosen their legal support based on a recommendation from a friend or business contact. While this does provide some reassurance that the legal support will be reliable and trustworthy, it does not mean the firm will have the specific expertise you need. For example, a firm that helped your friend’s business acquire another company won’t necessarily be the best choice to help you fight a copyright dispute.
Alternatively, many businesses will contact a selection of local business solicitors or commercial solicitors and try to assess which have the right expertise for their particular requirement. While this might get you closer to finding the commercial solicitor with the right expertise, it will be difficult to know whether the firm will do the work quickly and efficiently, without overcharging you. It could also be very time consuming!
Make sure the business lawyer you use is qualified
The Law Society certifies all its members as fit and qualified to undertake legal practice. All certified solicitors should display their Law Society certificate in their office. If they don’t, or if you’re suspicious of their credentials, you should contact the Law Society to verify their membership.
By being a member of the Law Society you can be confident that the solicitor is suitably qualified and insured to carry on their business. In addition, all members have to undertake continuing study to ensure they maintain sufficient levels of knowledge and skill and keep up to date with current good practice. The Society also ensures its members operate within a strict code of ethics, and they facilitate a complaints procedure and, where necessary, disciplinary procedures to ensure standards remain high.
A more effective way to find a commercial solicitor
In 2004 the UK government opened up the legal market to third party ‘referral’ companies, such as Contact Law. These referral companies provide a valuable service whereby they introduce private individuals and businesses to the right solicitor(s) to meet their individual and specific needs.
Contact Law is a ‘legal brokerage’ and has created a nationwide network of over 4,000 approved law firms. All these approved firms are fully registered and regulated by the Law Society. In addition, each one of these firms of business lawyers has been assessed by Contact Law to ascertain their expertise, cost-effectiveness and levels of customer service as being suitable for the small business market.
Contact Law services are free and all callers will be assigned a dedicated case handler who takes responsibility for ensuring the business gets the legal advice it needs, based on:
- the specialist knowledge the business is looking for
- the most appropriate price and payment structure
- the location
- the timescales it is working to
The case handler will offer free tailored independent legal advice to the business on its legal options, and will objectively select the UK solicitor who is best able to meet the business' requirements. Contact Law will also follow-up each referral, and will introduce the business to further solicitors if required.
For free initial legal help and legal advice call Contact Law today on 0800 1777 162.
Getting the right legal advice
Many business start-ups will not find a business solicitor because they think business legal advice is likely to be expensive. What some small business entrepreneurs fail to consider is how expensive it could be if they don’t get the right business lawyer…
It pays to get proper legal advice from a commercial solicitor right from the outset, as prevention is definitely better than cure. If you are in business, or about to set one up, advice from a business solicitor can help identify potential risks to protect you before they become a problem. And the good news is that good business legal advice doesn’t have to be expensive and in many cases you can get an initial consultation with a qualified UK solicitor for no charge.
For free initial legal help and legal advice call Contact Law today on 0800 1777 162.
Find a solicitor now rather than after you have a dispute
Some companies will get proper legal advice for their business from the start or on an on-going basis as part of a general risk assessment process. Others will wait until they have a problem or a dispute to resolve. If you dont know of a good business solicitor, or where to find one in a hurry when you need one, it might be prudent to find a solicitor now before your business is put at risk.
What a business solicitor can do for your business
A business solicitor can provide help and professional legal advice on a number of topics:
- Insurance: the legal business insurance requirements and other optional insurances you might want to consider
- Legal contracts and contract clauses, both those you need to have to protect your own business, and advice on legal contracts presented to your business
- Business premises: consideration of where to operate from, restrictions on using your home for your business, lease terms and conditions
- Employment law and handling disputes, employment contracts and employee contract terms and conditions
- General business terms and conditions, including sale terms and conditions
- Website terms and conditions: terms of using the website, privacy statements, data protection and e-commerce regulations
- Intellectual property law: help with registering trademarks and intellectual property, protection of copyright, patents
A business lawyer can also provide legal advice on the best trading status for your business, how to keep taxes to a minimum and on other financial matters. However, you may wish to consider consulting a qualified accountant on these matters.
For free initial legal help and legal advice call Contact Law today on 0800 1777 162.
Finding the right business solicitor
There are two key reasons why it may be difficult for small businesses to find the right legal help and legal advice:
- The uniqueness of each company and the legal services it requires
- The difficulty in evaluating the expertise, customer service levels and price of a solicitor
Traditionally, many businesses have chosen their legal support based on a recommendation from a friend or business contact. While this does provide some reassurance that the legal support will be reliable and trustworthy, it does not mean the firm will have the specific expertise you need. For example, a firm that helped your friend’s business acquire another company won’t necessarily be the best choice to help you fight a copyright dispute.
Alternatively, many businesses will contact a selection of local business solicitors or commercial solicitors and try to assess which have the right expertise for their particular requirement. While this might get you closer to finding the commercial solicitor with the right expertise, it will be difficult to know whether the firm will do the work quickly and efficiently, without overcharging you. It could also be very time consuming!
Make sure the business lawyer you use is qualified
The Law Society certifies all its members as fit and qualified to undertake legal practice. All certified solicitors should display their Law Society certificate in their office. If they don’t, or if you’re suspicious of their credentials, you should contact the Law Society to verify their membership.
By being a member of the Law Society you can be confident that the solicitor is suitably qualified and insured to carry on their business. In addition, all members have to undertake continuing study to ensure they maintain sufficient levels of knowledge and skill and keep up to date with current good practice. The Society also ensures its members operate within a strict code of ethics, and they facilitate a complaints procedure and, where necessary, disciplinary procedures to ensure standards remain high.
A more effective way to find a commercial solicitor
In 2004 the UK government opened up the legal market to third party ‘referral’ companies, such as Contact Law. These referral companies provide a valuable service whereby they introduce private individuals and businesses to the right solicitor(s) to meet their individual and specific needs.
Contact Law is a ‘legal brokerage’ and has created a nationwide network of over 4,000 approved law firms. All these approved firms are fully registered and regulated by the Law Society. In addition, each one of these firms of business lawyers has been assessed by Contact Law to ascertain their expertise, cost-effectiveness and levels of customer service as being suitable for the small business market.
Contact Law services are free and all callers will be assigned a dedicated case handler who takes responsibility for ensuring the business gets the legal advice it needs, based on:
- the specialist knowledge the business is looking for
- the most appropriate price and payment structure
- the location
- the timescales it is working to
The case handler will offer free tailored independent legal advice to the business on its legal options, and will objectively select the UK solicitor who is best able to meet the business' requirements. Contact Law will also follow-up each referral, and will introduce the business to further solicitors if required.
For free initial legal help and legal advice call Contact Law today on 0800 1777 162.