Business Reasons to Hire a Lawyer --- and Not Fear the Cost
Here's a useful article written for the small business owner about when you should call a lawyer. It lists such things as starting a business (and developing an exit strategy), collecting debts, and resolving business disputes. The common thread is that it makes far more sense to get legal help from the beginning, rather than wait for something to go wrong before seeking advice. It is almost always less expensive to get help up front. The reason is simple. Wait until a problem develops and you're asking me to unscramble eggs. Putting together the ingredients to make an omelet is easier, controllable, efficient, and more satisfying.
I would add to the article's list a few employment-specific reasons to get legal help at an early stage. These include firing someone, offering severance benefits, and drafting or evaluating non-compete agreements. My pet peeve is employee handbooks. As I've ranted before, no matter what you may hear, no matter what "foolproof" generic forms you may find on the internet, in New Jersey drafting an employee handbook is not a game for do-it-yourselfers. Just get help from the outset. It's not expensive and you'll save yourself many headaches down the road.
One other point that the article makes deserves emphasis. Law firms increasingly are moving away from hourly billing, so the days of open-ended legal expense are drawing to a close. Most lawyers will be happy to work with you to find the most cost-effective way to solve your problem. Most of us are interested in developing a long-term relationship with you, not maximizing our take on one project. All kinds of alternatives to hourly billing are being used, and they will give you comfort about the price that you will pay for a service. Don't be afraid to ask, and don't be afraid to walk away from a lawyer who won't discuss the subject with you.