How to Find the Best Long-Term
Solicitor for Your Business
The last thing your business wants is to be stuck with a solicitor who doesn’t have the required skills or experience to provide long-term legal solutions for your commercial endeavors. So, how do you go about finding the right solicitor for your business?
It’s an unavoidable truth that, at one point or another, you’re going to need to employ the services of a solicitor for your business. Whether that’s because you want to make sure you’ve drafted watertight employment contracts, or you’ve found yourself embroiled in a trademark dispute, one thing is for certain – you’re going to need a commercial solicitor’s support and guidance.
But, as you might already know, it’s not as easy as enlisting the first law firm you come across. Your business needs to make sure that it finds the best possible individual or firm who you can trust in the long-term, not someone who may end up being accused of being a negligent solicitor.
Here, we’ve put together a list of handy tips and advice that your business can use while you’re out searching for the right long-term solicitor.
7 Tips for Finding the Best Commercial Solicitor for Your Business
Check Their Accreditations
When you’re looking for a commercial solicitor to support your business, you’ll of course want to be working with individuals who are leading experts in their specific field. But, while anyone can technically claim that they know their stuff, legal accreditations are the proof you’ll want to rely on.
If a solicitor holds an accreditation in a particular area, it’s unlikely that they’ll want to keep a secret. So, when you’re doing your research, be sure to go through the personal pages of different solicitors on various websites to see if they’ve listed any awards or accreditations they’ve earned during their years of legal practice.
Find Some Client Testimonials
Previous happy clients are a sure sign that a solicitor is good at their job and achieves the best possible results. Again, law firms and solicitors that receive good client reviews are going to want to share them (why wouldn’t they, after all?), which means you can use them to help form your final decision on who you want to work with.
Be sure to take some of the reviews with a pinch of salt, however. A five-star review that says nothing but “Did a good job” shouldn’t be the deciding factor!
Make the Most of Free Meetings
Plenty of law firms and solicitors will offer new or prospective clients a free, no-obligation meeting to discuss what work is needed. If you want to ensure that your business is choosing the best long-term solicitor, it’s vital that you make the most of these meetings.
Not only will they give you the chance to assess their expertise, such as employment or white collar crime, but you can also get a better idea of what their working style is like, the fees you’ll have to pay, and whether you’re likely to form a close professional relationship.
Check Local Firms and Solicitors
When looking for a commercial solicitor for your business, it may be tempting to go for one of the big guns. National firms work across the country for a reason – they’ve got some of the best solicitors working on the highest wages, which means they’re going to know the law inside out.
That being said, there is an argument that can also be made for local law firms and solicitors who work on a smaller scale. They’ll likely be able to dedicate more time to your business and provide you with carefully tailored legal advice, which is exactly what you’re going to need if you want to reach a successful outcome.
Don’t Get Too Hung Up on Age and Experience
On that same note, you shouldn’t be tempted to get too hung up on the age and relative experience of the solicitor you’re looking for. Just because someone has been a commercial solicitor for 30+ years, it doesn’t automatically mean that they’re going to be able to provide you with the best possible legal advice.
If you want to form a long-term relationship, you should also keep in mind that older solicitors are much more likely to retire at short notice. This could end up putting you back to square one before you know it!
Cost Isn’t Always an Indicator of Quality
Your business has a budget for a solicitor, right? Well, you may be surprised to hear that you don’t need to use all of that budget! Price isn’t always an indicator of quality, which means you don’t need to rule out any potential commercial solicitors just because they don’t charge as much as others.
The fact that a commercial solicitor doesn’t charge as much as some others may also indicate that they’re able to achieve a good success rate – something else you should certainly keep in mind.
Be Careful Around Solicitors Who Promise the World
If you’re able to meet with a commercial solicitor, just be mindful of what they have to say about your situation. If you’re aware that circumstances are complicated and that an easy fix may not be possible, just be careful if a solicitor is promising the world.
The best commercial solicitors won’t shy away from being upfront about your chances of success and what steps you might need to go through to achieve a positive result. As the old saying goes – if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
