When to use a lawyer and what alternatives are available?
Most businesses will need the services of a law firm whether it be setting up the company, property advice, dealing with an employee or merging with another company.
But, given the expense of using a lawyer, it is tempting to look for an alternative to law firms that will achieve the same ends for less outlay.
Depending on the size and complexity of your business matters, there are a growing number of options in the marketplace.
If you are a member of a trade organisation or a business group, your membership may enable you to get some initial free advice.
Other options include free advice from colleges offering training courses for solicitors. If you don't mind being a case study for young solicitors-in-training, it might be useful to check on your nearest College of Law. These colleges often offer preliminary advice from its students on areas such as employment law.
There are also a number of specialist companies in the marketplace - eg in the employment law area – which can offer advice at a competitive rate.
For straightforward transactions, such as setting up a company or drawing up a property lease agreement, standard forms can be bought off the shelf or on the internet eg companies such as Lawpack. However, you do have to understand what you are doing and should make every effort to research the law in your particular area of interest.
A number of subscription-based or premium rate legal helplines have emerged in recent years as the regulations around who can give legal advice have been relaxed. Online services also exist which can handle business matters. These are normally reasonably priced and can be much less daunting than employing a law firm.
Law firms will, in the main, give you some free advice at the beginning – particularly if you are likely to be a long-term client - so, whilst there are a number of alternatives, the right commercial law firm may be the cheaper option for your business in the long-term.
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