How to Find the Best Lawyer for Your Online Business
Looking for a the best online business lawyer for your business can feel overwhelming especially if you haven't worked with an attorney before. The following tips will help you find, evaluate, and pick an attorney for your online business.
1. Find Potential Online Business Attorneys
There are a lot of attorneys out there, but it's not always easy to find the right one when you need it. Online business is a relatively new legal practice niche. Start my developing a list of potential attorneys. Some ways to find potential online business lawyers:
Word of Mouth - Ask around. Ask trusted business acquaintances and friends if they know any small business or online business attorneys they would recommend. Or, ask an attorney you've worked with on a different project. Your Florida real estate attorney may not be able to help, but they may be able to refer you to someone who can.
Google - Run a few different Google searches to get ideas. Try combining the terms "online business attorney" or "small business attorney" with your location and/or type of online business. For example, you could search "Florida online business attorney," or "Online business attorney for Etsy," or "Small business attorney for digital creators."
Try a few different options and don't be afraid to scroll down a bit. The first few results are usually paid (they'll have the word "Ad" at the left), which isn't necessarily bad but it can be useful to explore further - especially if you're on a budget as the paid spots are often, though not always, higher priced firms.
Social Media - A growing number of law firms are on the 'gram, TikTok, and YouTube. You can search similar terms to Google and see what pops up. While you're browsing, feel free to follow Bold City Legal at @boldcitylegal on Instagram.
2. Ask Questions to Potential Online Business Attorneys
Once you have some prospective attorneys, develop a list of questions you have about their experience and working together. You can probably get some questions answered by reviewing the potential online business attorney's website and socials, if applicable. You can get others answered in a consultation or introductory call.
At Bold City Legal, we offer a free intro. call for online businesses looking for an attorney. Self-schedule your free intro. call here.
Questions to Ask an Online Business Attorney
Not sure what to ask? These are some question ideas to get you started:
Tell me about your experience working with online business?
How long have you practiced law?
What are your rates? / What would a project like mine cost?
How does billing work?
How will you communicate with me?
Have you ever run an online business?
What question to people usually ask that I haven't?
What would be the timeline for my project?
Listen to the answers and also pay attention to how your questions are being answered. Does the attorney's communication style match yours? Do your questions feel valued? Is the attorney transparent with what they know and what they need to review or research?
3. Pick the Right Fit
After gathering information about potential attorneys, pick the one that is the right fit for YOUR online business. Not every attorney is a fit for every business, and that's OK. "Fit" is usually a combination of communication style, legal expertise, budget, and "gut feel."
For example, Bold City Legal focuses on working with small online businesses (typically 0 - 5 employees). If you have a 15 person funded start-up in a heavily regulated industry, Bold City Legal is probably not the right fit (though feel free to ask as we may be able to refer you to another firm that can help.) On the flip-side, if you are have just started your online coaching business (woohoo!) and have a VA and other miscellaneous contractors, Bold City Legal may be a great fit.
Need an Online Business Attorney? Contact Bold City Legal
Bold City Legal has been a virtual law firm since 2014, well before working with a law firm remotely was considered normal. We understand online business. Want to see if working with Bold City Legal for your online business legal needs? Schedule a free 15-minute introductory call. No obligation, no pressure.
