Choosing Outside Counsel

Choosing the right outside counsel is an extremely important decision. The primary reason to seek outside counsel is to hire an attorney who has expertise in a specific area of law that in-house counsel, or even other regularly used outside counsel, lacks the expertise needed to practice in. A popular way to choose outside counsel is through word-of-mouth recommendations. However, it is important to keep in mind that just because a certain attorney was a good fit for one case, does not mean they are a good fit for your case. Instead, when hiring outside counsel for your company, you should make an objective assessment by following these steps:

Research vendor service offerings and staffing: The best way to research attorneys and the practice area you need assistance in is to view the attorney’s website. Choose candidates based on cases they have worked on and their experience in the practice area that your issue arises from. This information can be found by reading through their firm practice area pages, attorney and paralegal bios, and client testimonials.

Check pricing against usual vendor rates: Don’t rely on an educated guess to determine if an attorney’s pricing is reasonable. Instead, compare their pricing with attorneys you have worked with in the past or your current vendors and make an educated decision on the reasonableness of outside counsel’s pricing.

Get to know prospects as people, not just professionals: When meeting with prospects in the interview process, it is important to see if an attorney will work well with your in-house counsel. The ability for your in-house counsel and outside counsel to work together can be a major factor towards the success or failure of your case. There are two big traits that are the foundation of a solid relationship: communication and collaboration. The ability to build a personal relationship between your company and outside counsel is very important in finding the right fit.

If you are seeking outside counsel for an issue within your business, call the attorneys at McNeelyLaw LLP at (317) 825-5110 to schedule a consult today.

This McNeelyLaw LLP publication should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion of any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own lawyer on any specific legal questions you may have concerning your situation.