Small businesses and large corporations in some point of time need a lawyer to resolve their legal problems. Choosing a good lawyer for your small business can be a challenging task. Corporations are more dependent on attorney, than individual businesses. Corporations must appear in court only through lawyer. If the president of a corporation wants to represent the company in court, he/she must be a licensed lawyer to do so. The individuals have rights to represent themselves in court. Many corporations have in-house counselor or contract a low firm to do all their legal work. The high cost of litigation, particularly attorney's fee, is the major concern for corporations and small businesses.

The best lawyers not always work for a big law firm. Many good lawyers work for smaller law firms, where they can get more experience with a wide range of cases.

The myth of the expensive lawyer.
It is a believe, that a company who can afford top-fight expensive legal counselor is above the law. It is true, that a competent lawyer will help you experience less legal problems. Even experienced lawyer may not get you out of trouble, if you break the law.

The best way to select the right attorney for your business is to ask your friends or relatives for advise. If someone you know, has had similar business problems and successfully used the lawyer to resolve them, it is a good idea to contact this lawyer. Another good resources to find a good lawyer is local law school. Professors often work with local attorneys, thus can reference you to an attorney experienced in your field. Internet and Yellow Pages, local libraries and bar association can be helpful to locate a good lawyer. There is a large selection of Law Firm Directories on the Internet. It is better to hire a local attorney, who is familiar with the court where the case will be held. If hired a lower form another town, be aware that court may require a local counselor presentation, too. Avoid creating a situation, when the attorney is handling a serious matter for personal friend.

When contacting an attorney, ask upfront about the fees structure. You must know how much is your representation likely to cost for the total case. Ask, how often this attorney handle  similar cases and what is the success rate. If contacting a law firm, ask who will handle your case and what level of experience this lawyer has. All fee arrangements must be in writing.

Many cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. It means, that the lawyer's compensation is a percentage of your recovery. No recovery usually means no fee for the attorney.

Remember, that a lawyer who can keep the client out of court altogether is even more valuable, than a lawyer who can win your case in court.

See also: Out-of-court dispute resolution