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Hiring Contract Lawyers Broken Down

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Hiring Contract Lawyers

When you start a business, there are two professionals you will need to partner with right from the start. The first is an accountant. The second? A contract attorney.

The world of business is powered by contracts. From property leases to vendor agreements to employment contracts, business owners sign a lot of paperwork. For this paperwork to serve you well, it needs to offer you critical protections and be in line with local, state, and federal laws. And while Google can be a big help with many things, it doesn’t replace a law degree.

Understanding that you need a contract lawyer is just the first step of the process, though. The next is to hire one that will provide the assistance you need. So, what should you look for when hiring a contract lawyer?

A Contract Lawyer Should Have Proper Training

Not everyone who advertises their legal services is an actual lawyer. While presenting yourself as an attorney when you are not is illegal, people still do it. So the first thing you want to verify is that the person you are working with has the proper training. This means they completed law school and earned a Juris Doctor. All contract lawyers should be able to provide quick proof of their training.

A Contract Lawyer Should Be Licensed to Practice in the Right State

Like most areas of law, contract law is determined at the state level, not the federal one. This means that the contract lawyer you select needs to have passed the bar examination in your state or whatever state is involved with the contracts you need. Keep in mind that the jurisdiction for a contract might not be what you expect, so be open to direction from the lawyers you speak to.

A Contract Lawyer Should Be Experienced

It might sound obvious, but the contract lawyer you select should have significant experience working with contracts. Because contract law is often considered a side specialty, it isn’t uncommon for lawyers to dabble in contract law while primarily focusing in another area. This is fine if the attorney still devotes significant time to their contract law practice, but if they only review contracts a few times a year, they might not be the best fit, especially if the contracts you need written, managed, and enforced are high stakes.

A Contract Lawyer Should Know Your Business

The nuances of contracts can vary between industries. Because of this, the contract lawyer you choose needs to understand the ins and outs of your business. If they don’t, it is easy to miss key risks that leave you open to litigation and losses. Knowledge of common problems within your industry is key, even if they do not specialize in contracts for your field.

A Contract Lawyer Should Be a Good Fit for You

Finally, the contract lawyer you choose needs to be one that makes you feel comfortable. Hopefully, this will be someone you can rely on for all your contract needs that arise over the years. If you don’t have a good rapport with them, that relationship could be strained. Look for someone you can speak openly with and trust in.

Finding Contract Lawyers Near You

Getting the legal assistance you need can seem daunting, but with Contracts Counsel, it is simple. Through our boutique marketplace, you can get quotes from vetted attorneys who understand your industry. Turn to ContractsCounsel.com for help that fits within your budget.


ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.


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Amy B. on ContractsCounsel
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November 7, 2023

Amy B.

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Miami, Florida
24 Yrs Experience
Licensed in FL
Rutgers University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey

Amy Bales focuses on the areas of corporate law, real estate, intellectual property (including trademarks, service marks and copyrights) and entertainment law. She is admitted to the Florida Bar.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
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"I am quite happy by the work Amy provided. She is great and I highly recommend her."

Darryl S. on ContractsCounsel
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5.0 (142)
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November 9, 2023

Darryl S.

Founder and Counselor-at-Law
Texas
33 Yrs Experience
Licensed in TX
The University of Texas School of Law Austin

I offer flat/fixed fees rather than hourly work to help lower your legal costs and align our interests. I specialize in contract law and focus on making sure your contract is clear, protects your interests and meets your needs. You can expect fast, straightforward communication from me, making sure you understand every step. With my experience, you'll get a detailed review of your contract at a fair, fixed price, without any surprises. I have over 30 years of business and legal experience that I bring to your project. I graduated from The University of Texas School of Law with High Honors in 1993 and practiced at Texas' largest law firm. I have founded companies and so understand how to be helpful as both a lawyer and business owner.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
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"Excellent attorney! D was thorough, communicative, very helpful, and knowledgable about the relevant SaaS topics. Really appreciate his ethical and practical approach to the law--specifically lets you know if certain elements are unnecessary extras charges. I look forward to working with him and his team again in the future!"

Dawn K. on ContractsCounsel
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4.3 (1)
Member Since:
November 5, 2023

Dawn K.

Partner
Free Consultation
Los Angeles, CA
11 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA
Concord Law School Kaplan University

Dawn K Kennedy has been licensed to practice law since 2015, but has been an entrepreneur since 2011. She uses her extensive project management and business background to support small and mid-sized businesses with contracts, negotiations, and other matters relating to the operation of a successful business venture.

Matthew F. on ContractsCounsel
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Member Since:
October 30, 2023

Matthew F.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Lawrence, KS
7 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KS
University of Kansas

Matthew grew up in Leawood, Kansas. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Communications in 2016 and from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2019 where he received a Business and Commercial Law Certificate. During his time as an undergraduate, he worked at a consulting firm focused on political campaigns and corporate public relations. In May of 2020, he will receive an MBA with a focus on finance from the University of Kansas Business School. Matthew is interested in several practice areas including business and commercial law, arbitration, and civil litigation. In his free time, Matthew enjoys playing basketball, using his virtual reality headset and listening to audiobooks.

Katherine V. on ContractsCounsel
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November 1, 2023

Katherine V.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Frankfort, Illinois
28 Yrs Experience
Licensed in IL
DePaul University College of Law

I am a skilled legal researcher and writer with a background in contract drafting and negotiation as well as litigation. I've served as an arbitrator for the past three years and have presided over nearly 400 binding arbitrations for an online dispute resolution platform. Additionally, I am a content writer and editor for the insurance division of LexisNexis. In my role as a contractor for LexisNexis, I research, draft, and edit high-quality legal reference tools on a variety of insurance topics for use by lawyers and insurance industry professionals.

Shawuki H. on ContractsCounsel
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November 3, 2023

Shawuki H.

Managing Attorney
Free Consultation
Bushnell, FL
6 Yrs Experience
Licensed in DC, FL
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School

hawuki attended SUNY Binghamton where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Leadership & Consulting. Shawuki then went on to pursue his Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law (WMU Cooley). During his time at WMU Cooley, Shawuki served as Justice of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, Vice President of Entertainment of Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and an Associate Editor of the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Journal of Practical and Clinical Law. At the conclusion of law school, Shawuki graduated with cum laude honors earning a spot on the Honor Roll and Dean's List. Professionally, Shawuki is an attorney/contract advisor and a serial entrepreneur. As the Managing Attorney of The Hilton Law Firm, PLLC, Shawuki has aided over a dozen startups and existing businesses with contractual, regulatory, administrative, and other legal matters. As a Canadian Football League (CFL) Contract Advisor, Shawuki has negotiated multiple player contracts, ensuring just compensation for his clients. Entrepreneurially, Shawuki is an owner of multiple businesses and has a wealth of business experience. Shawuki is a member of the Florida and District of Columbia Bar, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International, Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society, and was recently named to the National Black Lawyers Top 40 under 40 list Florida.

Darren W. on ContractsCounsel
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Member Since:
November 5, 2023

Darren W.

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Free Consultation
South Jordan, Utah
22 Yrs Experience
Licensed in AZ, CO, UT, WY
J. Reuben Clark, BYU

My main focus is estate planning and business transactions, but I have had many practice areas throughout my career, including criminal defense and prosecution, civil litigation from neighborhood squabbles to corporate contentions. I have also worked in bankruptcy, family law, collections, employment law, and personal injury. I stand ready to assist in any area to which I feel I can be of service, but will not try to fake it if I do not know the area of law I am being asked to serve in.

Boris K. on ContractsCounsel
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Member Since:
November 7, 2023

Boris K.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Newport Brach
13 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA
Western Michigan Law

With over 10 years experience as a Real Estate Broker and an attorney, I can help you with all your residential real estate needs such as For sale by owner transactions and drafting grant deeds

Robert W. on ContractsCounsel
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Robert W.

Registered IP Attorney
Free Consultation
Durham, NC
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NC
Campbell University - Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law

I am an experienced Intellectual Property attorney registered with the USPTO and have managed my solo practice for over a decade. As part of my practice, I handle trademark and patent concerns for my clients. I’ve performed extensive prior art searches, drafted patent applications, and prosecuted patents across a broad range of technologies. I've helped my clients secure protection for both standard character and special form marks across a a variety of classes from candles to dog collars. I believe, as an IP attorney, that I can facilitate the development of new technologies by protecting your rights from infringement or helping you enter the market by establishing those rights from the ground up. More importantly, I believe it should be an open and affordable process that’s accessible to anyone pushing the bounds of innovation.

LaKesha S. on ContractsCounsel
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Member Since:
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LaKesha S.

Managing Partner
Free Consultation
Montgomery, Alabama
21 Yrs Experience
Licensed in AL
Thomas Goode Jones School of Law

I am LaKesha B. Shahid, managing partner of Shahid & Hosea LLC. We focus primarily in domestic relations. We strive to make our clients our top priority.

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