5 Warning Signs That You've Hired a Bad Lawyer (and What to Do About It)

Anyone successful entrepreneur knows that legal and financial matters cannot be ignored. Therefore, one of the first tasks on your list when building a new business must be “finding a good lawyer”. 

However, this can prove a rather challenging task, since not all lawyers are good at their job. Moreover, even when they are good at what they do, there’s always the matter of compatibility with your business and your team. 

So, it’s best to know how to find the lawyer who suits your current needs and how to identify the early signs of a bad lawyer. We can help you with the last part, so make sure to continue reading about the 5 most common warning signs that foretell a bad lawyer.

In the US, each state has its own set of rules, so you can’t rely on your previous legal notions if you’re starting afresh in a new region. That’s why it’s best to hire a local lawyer, with proper expertise on local laws and business practices. 

For instance, if you are in Nevada, you will benefit the most from a collaboration with a law firm like Benson & Bingham, since they are highly recommended as experts in local laws by their customers. 

Therefore, before hiring the first law firm or lawyer that comes your way, check if they are familiar with the local laws. Of course, this also involves some research on your part, but it’s always a good idea to be up to date on all aspects of your business activity. 

A lawyer’s job is to listen to your legal problems and offer advice and guidance according to your specific needs. While doing so, they must keep a respectful and friendly demeanor. If your lawyer is arrogant or condescending towards yourself or your employees, it’s a clear sign of a bad collaboration and you should either ask for a different legal representative or change the firn altogether. 

Lawyers don’t work one case at a time (usually), so their schedule is packed with the needs of various clients. Still, this doesn’t mean your case is less important (even if you’re just starting in business) and doesn’t excuse any delays in replying to your emails or dodging your calls. 

If you are in such a situation, have a chat with your lawyer and explain your expectations (updates on the progress and timely replies). If nothing changes, consider finding a new legal representative. 

You don’t want a lawyer who is perpetually late to meetings and often misses deadlines. This type of behavior suggests a person who can’t keep up with their workload and who lacks efficiency in their daily activity. 

Usually, a disorganized person is easy to spot from the first meetings because they tend to look disheveled and are always in a hurry.  So, pay attention during your first meetings, when you establish the rules of your collaboration. 

Before hiring a lawyer, check their professional track record and look for situations similar to yours. If they didn’t handle anything similar in the past or if they did but were unsuccessful, it’s best to avoid hiring them. 

Hiring a lawyer or a law firm is a significant financial investment (regardless of your budget), which is why you need to be careful with your selection. 

A collaboration with a reliable lawyer or law firm frees up your time for more important tasks, such as finding the right customers or hiring the right team. On the other hand, a bad lawyer can make things a lot more difficult and can even drive your business project into the ground.