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Step 1
Identify your business's legal needs. For example, does your business require the ongoing creation of contracts, or will you need a corporate law firm to provide you with ongoing assistance with potential litigation?
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Step 2
Consider whether you want to work with a large law firm, which generally comes with a high price tag, or a smaller law firm that may prove more affordable. According to the Orlando Business Journal, working with a larger law firm will allow you to have access to attorneys who specialize in different areas in one law firm, while a lawyer with a smaller law firm or an independent lawyer will typically provide you with more support and what it calls "hand-holding."
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Step 3
Ask for a referral, particularly from someone in the legal industry. Lawyers generally know which of their peers are competent and who should be avoided.
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Step 4
Request a list of the corporate lawyer's clients that are representative of his total clientele. According to AllBusiness.com, by doing this, you can gauge whether the corporate attorney works with businesses that are similar in size to yours and whether he will be able to handle your particular business's needs.
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Step 5
Ask the corporate lawyer for references and their contact information. Contact the references and talk to them about their experience with the lawyer, what they liked and didn't like about working with the corporate lawyer and whether they would work with him again.
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Step 6
Contact the American Bar Association at abanet.org to ensure that the corporate lawyer has a positive reputation. Make sure that any corporate lawyers you are considering working with are in good standing in the legal community.
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Step 7
Go to the websites of the corporate lawyers with whom you are considering working so you can get a better idea of where their experience lies and their background in the legal industry. Whittle your list down to the top two or three corporate lawyers as you learn more about them.
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Step 8
Meet with each of your top corporate lawyers to get to know them and to determine whether you will feel comfortable working with them. Your goal should be to choose a corporate lawyer who understands business and your industry and who shows a genuine interest in your business.
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Step 9
Never choose a corporate lawyer solely on price. Remember that old saying: "You get what you pay for," and that is often true whether you want to hire a corporate lawyer, a real estate agent or builder for your home.
