How to Choose the Best Bellevue WA Business Law Attorney (2023)

Whether you are a Fortune 500 company, a small business, or a start-up, a business law and commercial attorney in Bellevue WA can help with all aspects of running a business, but not every attorney will be right for you.

In this guide, learn how to research your business & commercial attorneys in Bellevue WA, why you need to contact them and meet at their office. Also, find out what are the 8 questions you should ask during your first interview to decide whether or not she or he will be in charge of your case.

Do You Need a Business & Commercial Attorney in Bellevue WA?


While you may not need legal advice on a regular basis, it probably pays for you to have an attorney for your company in Bellevue WA on call.
How to Choose the Best Bellevue WA Business Law Attorney (1)

That way, when you need legal advice and assistance, you’ll be working with someone in Bellevue WA whom you’re comfortable, and who understands the needs of your business.
When will you need legal counsel? Here are some typical situations:
– When you’re deciding whether to incorporate – and need to file the appropriate paperwork
– When you’re trying to write or decipher a complicated contract
– When you’re threatened with a lawsuit
– When you need help collecting a debt
– When you need information on regulations pertaining to your business, and assistance in how to comply with them

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Indeed, Business & Commercial attorneys in Bellevue WA can assist in the formation of a business, the sale of a business and everything in between. While they try to prevent disputes, they can also assist with commercial litigation.

Not Every Business & Commercial Attorney in Bellevue WA will be Right for You


You must be sure that your philosophy of how to handle your business & commercial case in Bellevue WA matches that of your attorneys; both of you need to be on the same page. It is important that you ask questions and gather information which reveals the attorney’s philosophy for handling cases.

Selecting the right business & commercial attorney in Bellevue WA for your case will help you get through legal problems with the least amount of time, stress and money.

Research Your Business & Commercial Attorney in Bellevue WA


Once you have selected a business & commercial attorney in Bellevue WA to meet with, the next thing you should do is look into that attorney’s experience and background. There are several ways to do this:

1. Search the Internet: Do a Google search on your attorney in Bellevue WA. Look for a legal blog, a website, news stories quoting or featuring the attorney, and other online information. Ideally, your attorney should devote almost all of his or her practice to the business & commercial matter you are willing to solve.
2. Contact the State Office of Court Administration: This office can tell you when the attorney was admitted to practice law in Bellevue WA, where he or she went to school and when he or she graduated, and whether the attorney is in good standing or has a record of disciplinary actions.
3. Ask Around: You should ask your circle of friends and professional advisers in Bellevue WA (accountants, attorneys, even some of their past or existing clients, etc) what they know about the attorney, or if they know someone who does know about the attorney.

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Contacting the Business & Commercial Attorney’s Office in Bellevue WA and Scheduling Your Initial Consultation


Now that you have selected a business & commercial attorney to interview and have done research on him or her, the next step is to contact the attorney’s office in Bellevue WA and schedule an appointment. You can learn a lot about how your attorney will behave if you retain him or her just by how he or she handles the simple but important task of scheduling a meeting with you as a potential new client.

Contact the business & commercial attorney’s office in Bellevue WA by telephone or e-mail and request an appointment. When you do this, it is important to tell the attorney’s office that you would like to discuss a specific type of business & commercial case. Take careful note of how quickly your message is answered. Your inquiry should always be answered promptly. If the attorney you contacted cannot manage to reply to a potential new client who is bringing him or her a new case and therefore new fees, that fact should tell you something about how he or she will behave once he or she already has your money.

Also, pay close attention to who you deal with in setting the appointment and how you are treated. Most good business & commercial attorneys in Bellevue WA rely on an assistant to schedule their appointments, and that person is very often responsible for much of the day to day communications and interactions with you once you hire your attorney. If you are not comfortable with the assistant who sets your appointment, it is a sign that the attorney may not be right for you and your business & commercial case.

Finally, you should ask about the cost of the initial consultation. Evaluate the response you get to these questions. Was the response clear and unequivocal?

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Visiting the Business & Commercial Attorney’s Office in Bellevue WA; What You See & Hear is What You Get


How to Choose the Best Bellevue WA Business Law Attorney (2) The experience of meeting your business & commercial attorney at his or her office in Bellevue WA is critical to determining whether this attorney is a good fit for you and your special case. An attorney’s office is, in effect, his or her professional home. And the rules that apply to a attorney’s professional home are the same as those that apply to your own home. So, you should pay careful attention to what you see and hear in your attorney’s office.

1. Visit during normal business hours. Set up your appointment in Bellevue WA during normal hours when the rest of the staff is present. Why? Because you want to meet the staff and see just how well they take care of clients.
2. Is the office in Bellevue WA neat and clean? This tells you something about how organized and focused the business & commercial attorney is. If the office is a mess and there are papers and files everywhere, imagine how that will affect the attorney’s ability to find your file and deal with your case at critical moments.
3. How does the attorney and his or her employees behave towards you and each other? It is important to observe how the business & commercial attorney’s staff in Bellevue WA treats you and each other during your visit. What you see when you are there is likely to be their best behavior. If you are not well taken care of during your visit or you observe inappropriate behavior during your visit, you can be certain this conduct will get worse once you are a client of the firm and the attorney has your money in hand.

Interviewing your Business & Commercial Attorney in Bellevue WA – 8 Questions You Should Ask


Preparing for your interview with your business & commercial attorney in Bellevue WA will help you make a better and more informed decision. You should organize discussion topics prior to meeting and bring with you any relevant paperwork. Your business & commercial attorney may need some of the documents you bring with you so be prepared and retain copies for your own records. If you can, you should write down dates and times of events, the names and addresses of any witnesses and any other important facts.

You should try to understand that business & commercial attorneys in Bellevue WA have professional and ethical commitments to all of their other clients, so you should expect your interview to last about 30-45 minutes on average.

At some point during the meeting in Bellevue WA, you should be able to ask questions about your case. You should try and write down as many of your questions as you can before the meeting so that you make sure you remember to ask them.

The 8 questions you should ask in the interview with your business attorney in Bellevue WA:
1. How much experience do you have with business & commercial cases like mine?
2. How much of your practice is devoted to the type of law I need help with?
3. What other types of business & commercial cases do you handle?
4. How do you communicate with clients? Do you prefer e-mail, text message or telephone?
5. How quickly do you answer calls and other communications from clients?
6. How much will your services cost me? What is your retainer fee?
7. Do you bill for normal business ‘overhead’ such as faxes, postage, and photocopies?
8. How long does an business & commercial case like mine usually take if there are no unusual developments?

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Deciding which Business & Commercial Attorney in Bellevue WA is Right for You


While you are interviewing a business & commercial attorney in Bellevue WA, you should listen carefully to the answers provided. You should also pay extremely close attention to your attorney’s personality, his or her manners and behavior, and how you feel during the interview.

How does the attorney in Bellevue WA make you feel? Comfortable? At ease? Are you treated as an equal and with respect? Or do you feel like the business & commercial attorney has a superior attitude and talks down to you? Has the attorney spent meaningful time with you and provided answers to your questions and concerns in a friendly and appropriate manner?

How you feel about your business & commercial attorney in Bellevue WA and how he or she behaves towards you will have an affect on your ability to trust and communicate effectively with that person over emotional and highly personal matters. Once the interview is over and you have time to reflect, assess the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate. Did the business & commercial attorney in Bellevue WA listen to you? Did the attorney provide enough information to make you feel comfortable that they know the law and procedure? Did you feel confident?

Once you have gone through all of these steps, you now have the information and experiences necessary to decide which business & commercial attorney in Bellevue WA best suits your needs.

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FAQs

How do you know you got a good lawyer? ›

In order for you to determine if a lawyer is good or not, consider their communication skills, their ability to meet deadlines, whether they are making promises they can't keep, their work atmosphere and their billing practices. If the lawyer is posing any red flags in those areas, then they are not your best option.

What criteria important to selecting an attorney for a new firm? ›

Experience is, by far, the most important thing to consider when selecting an attorney to represent you and your case. Make sure you to also select an attorney who devotes their time to a particular practice area related to your case, such as personal injury, estate planning or immigration, for example.

What is the most common complaint that clients have about attorneys? ›

The most common disciplinary complaints filed against lawyers are for: Neglect. Lack of communication. Misrepresentation/Dishonesty.

What is the most profitable area of law practice? ›

Complex Litigation

This is an area of law that demands a lot of patience and incredible attention to detail. Complex litigation is one of the more lucrative specializations because they involve high-stakes, corporate lawsuits and a lot of motions filed in court.

How do you interview a lawyer? ›

Litigation-related questions to ask a lawyer in an interview include:
  1. How many court and jury trials have you done and what is your win percentage? ...
  2. What is the chance that I receive a favorable outcome? ...
  3. What are the risks if the case does fail? ...
  4. What are the odds of a settlement? ...
  5. How long should I expect this to take?

What are the two things an attorney must present in order to be admitted to the Georgia court? ›

Attorneys seeking to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia must be active members in good standing with the Georgia State Bar. All attorneys seeking admission are required to submit a Petition for Bar Admission and must have two sponsoring attorneys sign their petition.

What are the most important attributes of a successful attorney? ›

7 qualities every good lawyer should have
  • 1) Good communication skills. Lawyers must be orally articulate, have good written communication skills and also be good listeners. ...
  • 2) Judgement. ...
  • 3) Analytical skills. ...
  • 4) Research skills. ...
  • 5) People skills. ...
  • 6) Perseverance. ...
  • 7) Creativity.
Mar 16, 2022

What three elements are necessary in order to take advantage of the attorney client privilege? ›

A: Firstly, the privilege requires that three things exist: 1) an attorney (including his whole office and staff) and a client; 2) a private communication; 3) the purpose of providing legal advice.

Are lawyers honest with their clients? ›

[1] A lawyer is required to be truthful when dealing with others on a client's behalf, but generally has no affirmative duty to inform an opposing party of relevant facts.

What are the four most common issues for attorneys related to ethics? ›

There are four core principles regarding integrity that guide legal practice: independence, confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, and maintaining professional integrity.

What unethical things do lawyers do? ›

Unprofessional Behavior
  • Failing to show up for meetings.
  • Using foul or crass language.
  • Making important decisions about your case without your input.
  • Missing deadlines.
  • Filing paperwork incorrectly.
  • Failing to disclose conflicts of interest.
  • Continuing to work on your case when there is a known conflict of interest.
Jul 14, 2022

What is the richest type of lawyer? ›

Patent lawyers are among the highest-paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field. These legal professionals advise clients about patents so their clients can obtain patents granted by patent offices around the world.

Which type of lawyer is best? ›

Of all the types of lawyers, the most popular is the profession of Criminal Lawyer. These professionals are specialized in the intricacies of Criminal Law. and they defend individuals who are charged with committing crimes.

What does a successful lawyer look like? ›

Listening to your clients, listening to witnesses, listening to your opposing counsel, and listening to the court can be the difference between winning and losing a case. Great lawyers take in all relevant information, analyze it, and create a plan of action.

What are your weaknesses as a lawyer? ›

11 drawbacks of being a lawyer
  • High-stress situations. When you're in this profession, it's important to meet deadlines and the demands of your clients. ...
  • Long hours. ...
  • Expensive education. ...
  • Not as many client opportunities. ...
  • Client's aren't spending as much. ...
  • Threat of outsourced legal work. ...
  • Negative stigma. ...
  • Difficult clients.
Mar 10, 2023

What are 5 good things about being a lawyer? ›

The Top 7 Benefits of Being a Lawyer
  • Wide Selection of Legal Career Options. ...
  • Lawyer Benefits and Salary. ...
  • Mental Stimulation and Intellectual Challenges. ...
  • Argue and Debate. ...
  • Work Environment. ...
  • Skills that Transfer – Alternative Legal Careers. ...
  • Flexibility.

How do you nail an interview at a law firm? ›

8 ways to prepare for a legal job interview
  1. Highlight your successes. ...
  2. Be knowledgeable about what you've done. ...
  3. Frame your experience for the role. ...
  4. Know what's going on. ...
  5. Sell your soft skills. ...
  6. Prepare your questions — and your answers. ...
  7. Dress to impress. ...
  8. Relax and be yourself.

What are good questions to ask lawyers? ›

Questions you might ask your lawyer
  • Do I have a problem that can be resolved by law?
  • What legal risks am I facing?
  • What documents do I need to support my case?
  • Do I need statements from witnesses?
  • What are my options for resolving the dispute out of court?
  • How can I settle the case?

What is the first conversation with a lawyer? ›

Let the lawyer lead the conversation and ask the questions

At some point, everything is important in your case. However, before the lawyer can get you to the final destination, they need to look at the map of where you need to go. At the start of the conversation, let the lawyer lead the questions and conversation.

What is the local rule 83? ›

A local rule imposing a requirement of form must not be enforced in a way that causes a party to lose any right because of a nonwillful failure to comply. (b) Procedure When There Is No Controlling Law. A judge may regulate practice in any manner consistent with federal law, rules adopted under 28 U.S.C.

What three elements must be present to proceed with a lawsuit? ›

Standing includes the following three (3) elements: (1) Injury in Fact; (2) Causation; and (3) Redressability. If a claimant can establish these three elements in its cause of action, the claimant generally will have the right to bring that cause of action against the other party.

What are 3 different situations in which person would need to speak with lawyer? ›

being arrested for a crime; being served with legal papers in a civil lawsuit; being involved in a serious accident causing personal injury or property damage; a change in family status such as divorce, adoption, or death; and.

What makes a strong lawyer? ›

It sounds like a basic expectation, but lawyers who consistently respond with timeliness to the court, counsel, and clients stand out as good lawyers. It will be easy with your schedule to be less proactive and responsive than you realize. Put practices in place to make sure you are known as a very responsive lawyer.

What is an attorney's greatest asset? ›

Attorneys should take care of their mental health, as it is their greatest asset. The legal industry should be supporting this effort in every way possible.

What are the three main attributes for a successful commercial lawyer? ›

4 Key Qualities To Look For In Commercial Lawyers
  • Experience.
  • Reliability.
  • Communication Skills.
  • Knowledgeability.
Apr 1, 2022

What overrides attorney-client privilege? ›

The attorney-client privilege protects most communications between clients and their lawyers. But, according to the crime-fraud exception to the privilege, a client's communication to her attorney isn't privileged if she made it with the intention of committing or covering up a crime or fraud.

What are the 3 main privileged communications? ›

What Qualifies as Privileged Communication? In judicial proceedings, the law allows people to refuse to disclose the contents of certain privileged conversations and writings. Communications between an attorney and client, husband and wife, clergyperson and penitent, and doctor and patient are all privileged.

What does not fall under attorney-client privilege? ›

The attorney-client privilege does not apply when you seek the lawyer's assistance in carrying out or planning a crime or a fraud. There is no lawyer-client privilege if the lawyer reasonably believes that disclosure of confidential attorney-client communication is necessary to prevent death or substantial bodily harm.

What is the rule 5 120? ›

(A) A member who is participating or has participated in the investigation or litigation of a matter shall not make an extrajudicial statement that a reasonable person would expect to be disseminated by means of public communication if the member knows or reasonably should know that it will have a substantial ...

Do people tell their lawyers everything? ›

A client should always feel comfortable telling their attorney the whole truth of the matter for which they are being represented. Any communications that take place with the purpose of securing assistance in a legal proceeding, legal services, or securing a legal opinion are protected.

Should you be 100 percent honest with your lawyer? ›

To do our jobs effectively, it's critical that you are honest with us throughout the process. While shame, guilt, and/or insecurity may tempt you to lie to your lawyer, we strongly advise you to resist the urge.

What are 3 different ethical rules that lawyers must follow? ›

The concepts that are typically relevant to clients are:
  • Confidentiality: A lawyer should preserve the confidences of a client. ...
  • Competence: An attorney must represent a client with the utmost competence. ...
  • Professional Judgement: A lawyer should exercise independent professional judgement on behalf of a client.
May 21, 2020

What are the 4 types of law ethics? ›

Aquinas's Natural Law Theory contains four different types of law: Eternal Law, Natural Law, Human Law and Divine Law.

What are examples of unethical behavior by an attorney? ›

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What is an example of legal but unethical behavior? ›

Answer and Explanation: An example of something that is legal but unethical is paying employees minimum wage without any increase over time, which leads to them struggling to manage their living expenses. An example of something illegal but ethical is driving over the speed limit.

What type of lawyer makes the least money? ›

Legal Aid Attorney

Legal Aid attorneys provide counsel to people who cannot afford to pay for their own lawyer. These are public interest jobs that many lawyers get a great deal of satisfaction out of, even if they don't make a large amount of money.

What is the lowest and highest salary for lawyer? ›

Across all fields and locations, the median salary for lawyers in 2016 was $118,160, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The same year, the BLS reported that the bottom 10% of lawyers earned under $54,910, while the top 10% earned over $208,000.

What is the highest position in a law firm? ›

Managing partners.

Managing partners of a law firm are the highest officials of the firm. These consist of senior-level lawyers or founders of the firm. This is the position most lawyers are gunning for when they take a job at a law firm, however, it typically takes many years of hard work and dedication to obtain it.

Is Kim Kardashian a lawyer? ›

While not yet an official lawyer, The Kardashians star shared with moderator Poppy Harlow that she hopes her efforts in the movement will be "her life's most meaningful work."

Who is more rich a lawyer or a doctor? ›

However, on average, the data shows that doctors make more than lawyers. To the surprise of some, the reality is that the discrepancy is not even close. Specifically, the average doctor makes $208,000 per year, while the average lawyer makes $118,160.

Who is the worlds best lawyer? ›

Who are the Best Lawyers in the World?
  • Judy Sheindlin. ...
  • Harish Salve. ...
  • Bill Neukom. ...
  • William Lerach. ...
  • David Boies. ...
  • Wichai Thongtang. ...
  • Joe Jamail. Popularly known as the 'king of tort', he is an aggressive and persuasive personality in the area of contract and tort law. ...
  • Richard Scruggs. Richard F.

Is an attorney more powerful than a lawyer? ›

It is helpful to remember that all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys. The major difference is that attorneys can represent clients in court and other legal proceedings, while lawyers cannot.

What type of lawyer is the least stressful? ›

What type of lawyer is the least stressful? Real estate law, estate planning law, and intellectual property law are commonly cited as the least stressful types of law to practice.

What are the two types of lawyers called? ›

A: When talking about two main types of lawyers, we're actually referring to criminal law professionals. These are prosecutors and defense attorneys. While prosecutors represent the state, defense attorneys represent people accused by the state.

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer? ›

Sometimes. If you haven't heard from the lawyer who took your case because they are constantly with other clients, constantly in court, or just unavailable, your lawyer may have taken on too many cases. When a lawyer takes on so many cases that they have no room to breathe, it could impact your case in a negative way.

What makes a really good lawyer? ›

Having excellent logical, analytical, research and writing skills are all hallmarks of a good lawyer. Successful lawyers must be able to prepare effective, clear and well-reasoned legal documents and arguments that require research, plus a strong analytical and logical approach.

Are you supposed to be honest with your lawyer? ›

You should be honest with your lawyer

This is especially true in criminal cases. If you withhold information from your lawyer, it can jeopardize your case. Your lawyer needs to know everything in order to provide the best possible defense.

What should you not say to a lawyer? ›

Top 5 things you should never tell your lawyer
  • My case will be easy money for you. ...
  • I have already done the work for you. ...
  • I forgot I had an appointment. ...
  • I've already talked to a lot of other lawyers. ...
  • I don't have all my documents.
Apr 19, 2022

Why is my lawyer not answering me? ›

Your attorney may be waiting until a deadline is closer to request documents or answer interrogatories. There are no updates to report. Personal injury cases take time and can be slow going in the early stages. Just as your attorney has deadlines, so does the other side of the docket.

Why won't my lawyer answer me? ›

If your lawyer is not responding to your calls, you should escalate the communication. Consider asking them for your file, send them a certified letter describing your issue or what you need from them. Request an in-person meeting so that you can get direct answers regarding your claim.

What are the four responsibilities of lawyers? ›

Duties
  • Advise and represent clients in courts, before government agencies, and in private legal matters.
  • Communicate with their clients, colleagues, judges, and others involved in the case.
  • Conduct research and analysis of legal problems.
  • Interpret laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses.
Sep 8, 2022

What are 3 positive things about being a lawyer? ›

Here are some of the pros of being a lawyer:
  • Multiple Opportunities to Choose From. As previously mentioned, legal professionals like lawyers have many career options in their field. ...
  • Financial Benefits. ...
  • Challenging Work. ...
  • Prestige and Respect. ...
  • Flexible Time.
Jun 18, 2022

How smart is the average lawyer? ›

Emotional intelligence does not correlate with IQ. Just because you're smart doesn't mean you're likely to have a high EI. Some professionals, such as lawyers, exhibit high average IQ scores (in the 115-130 range), while at the same time scoring lower than the general population on EI (85-95).

What lawyers will be in most demand? ›

That said, let's uncover the law specializations that are currently high in demand.
  • Intellectual property law. ...
  • Family law. ...
  • Immigration & naturalization law. ...
  • Real estate law. ...
  • Contract management. ...
  • Compliance. ...
  • Labor and employment. ...
  • Corporate transactions.
Mar 23, 2022

What is professional misconduct? ›

According to the dictionary it is “a violation of the rules or boundaries set by the governing body of a profession.” Things that would be considered to be professional misconduct are: Failure to meet the Standards of practice. Working while impaired. Abusive conduct.

Do clients tell their lawyers the truth? ›

A client should always feel comfortable telling their attorney the whole truth of the matter for which they are being represented. Any communications that take place with the purpose of securing assistance in a legal proceeding, legal services, or securing a legal opinion are protected.

Do lawyers always tell the truth? ›

Counsel may not deliberately mislead the court, but has no obligation to tell the defendant's whole story.

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