If you believe one technique will work better for you than another, don’t be afraid to tell your San Diego Veterinary attorney; many will work with you to find a solution that meets your needs. Draw up an agreement (called an “engagement letter”) detailing the billing mechanism when hiring an attorney.
Are you experienced as a Veterinary Attorney?
Don’t be scared to grill an attorney on his level of experience. Ask if the attorney has ever managed incorporation and if he knows you wish to incorporate your Veterinary clinic.
Are you well-connected with legal matters?
Your business attorney should act as a legal “internist,” diagnosing your situation, doing any necessary “small surgery,” and referring you to local specialists for “major surgery” if necessary. No lawyer is often an expert in every field of law. Assume your company has unique legal requirements (a Vet clinic owner, for example, may need someone familiar with Veterinary laws).
In that situation, your attorney should either be knowledgeable in that field or have a working relationship with someone who is. You shouldn’t have to go for a new lawyer every time you have a different type of legal issue.
Do you have other clients in the Veterinary industry?
Your attorney should be knowledgeable about your industry and the legal context in which it operates. If not, the lawyer should be willing to learn everything there is to know about it. Look for copies of equivalent publications and professional literature that you simply read on your candidate’s bookshelf or rack .
Attorneys that represent one or more of your competitors should be avoided. While the legal code of ethics (yes, there is one) compels your lawyer to keep everything you tell them confidential, you don’t want to take the chance of crucial information being accidentally leaked to a competitor.
Will you be flexible in your billing?
Due to a “supply” of attorneys in California, with far too many practicing in most geographic areas like San Diego, attorneys are in a position to negotiate their prices like never before, and it is unquestionably a “buyer’s market.”
If an attorney requests a retainer or a deposit against future fees, make sure the money will be put to good use rather than being held in escrow forever. The attorney agrees to return any unused amount of the retainer if the deal falls through for any reason. Any attorney who offers to take ownership of your company in exchange for a fee should be avoided.
Lastly, remember to trust your intuition and feelings. You should be ready to talk honestly and freely together with your attorney. Continue looking if you don’t trust a specific attorney or believe you and he has opposing viewpoints.
