When you start a company or work as an independent contractor, you will likely have to hire an attorney at some point. The type of legal services you need will depend on your industry and company structure. However, there are some general types of legal work that almost every business needs in some capacity. For example, companies in almost every industry need contracts when they begin working with customers or vendors. Contracts are also important for protecting your company from future liabilities. Here is a list of common types of legal services:
Company Formation
Depending on your state or country, you may or may not need to be legally registered as a business. This will affect contracts, taxes, and hiring practices. If you want to start a company, you will likely need to hire an attorney to help you with company formation. This will include registering your business with your local government, forming a business entity type, and drafting and signing a business agreement. You may also need to hire an accountant to help you determine how much money you will need and how you will pay taxes. The cost of forming a business varies depending on your location and industry.
Contract Review
If you regularly work with clients and vendors to create a contract for each project, you may need to review them periodically. Contracts should be thorough, detailed, and easy to understand. They should also be written so that both sides are happy with the outcome. If a contract is not thorough enough, it can leave your company open to legal issues. If it is too detailed, it can be difficult for someone else to read and understand.
Employment Contracts
If you have employees, you will likely need to draft an employment contract. This will include discussing compensation, vacation time, benefits, and termination procedures with your employees. You will also want to include non-disclosure and non-competition clauses in your contract. This will help you protect your company’s intellectual property and confidential information. An employment contract may also include a non-disparagement clause. This will prevent your employees from sharing negative information about your company with customers.
Business Continuity Plan
If your company experiences a serious problem or disaster, you may need to implement a business continuity plan. This will include shutting down your services, contacting customers and vendors, and keeping track of any costs. You will also need to create a plan to reopen your business as quickly as possible once the issue has been resolved. This will help you avoid losing customers, incurring unnecessary expenses, and losing revenue due to a lack of service.
Marketing Contracts
If you plan to market your services to customers, you will likely need to sign an agreement with a marketing agency. This will include outlining the services provided, payment plans, and when the services will be completed. The attorney who drafts the agreement will likely want to include a confidentiality clause. This will protect you and your company from getting caught in a liability lawsuit.
Data Protection Contract
If you store sensitive customer or employee information, you may need to sign a data protection contract. This will include setting up an independent data protection firm, having them sign a non-disclosure agreement, and regularly auditing their work. You will also want to include a clause in your contracts that covers the destruction of any sensitive information.
Summary
When you start a company or work as an independent contractor, you will likely have to hire an attorney at some point. The type of legal services you need will depend on your industry and company structure. However, there are some general types of legal work that almost every business needs in some capacity. For example, companies in almost every industry need contracts when they begin working with customers or vendors. Contracts are also important for protecting your company from future liabilities. Here is a list of common types of legal services: