If you are in a media, design or other creative-type business, it is certainly a “plus” if your lawyer can help you register your products and services for federal trademark and copyright protection. Generally, though, these tasks are performed by specialists who do nothing but “intellectual property” legal work. If your lawyer says he or she “specializes in small businesses,” then he or she should have a close working relationship with one or more intellectual property specialist. Don’t forget that your key employees will also need to sign various non-disclosure agreements so they don’t acquire your firm’s specialized knowledge and then go out and compete with you for the same customers. Each state’s rules are different so you should be sure to check with a local lawyer and not just use an agreement you found on the Internet.

Although your accountant will prepare and file your business tax returns each year, your lawyer should know how to register your business for federal and state tax identification numbers, and understand the tax consequences of the more basic business transactions in which your business will engage. Furthermore, your lawyer will be able to advise you on the best way to maximize tax shelters legally.

Leases of commercial space–such as offices and retail stores–are highly complex and are always drafted to benefit the landlord. Because they tend to be “printed form” documents, you may be tempted to think they are not negotiable. Not so. Your attorney should have a standard “tenant’s addendum,” containing provisions that benefit you, that can be added to the printed form lease document. He will also be able to advise you on what the owner’s responsibilities to you should be.

You will need a lawyer who can help you decide whether a corporation or limited liability company (LLC) is the better way to organize your business, and prepare the necessary paperwork. He will also advise you on the best way to prepare to expand your business when the time comes, where to incorporate (each state has different advantages and disadvantages) and how the different stakeholders should relate to each other. A good specialist in Business Organizations can also advise you on what structure you should use to maximize your personal protection and what steps you and the business must do to ensure that protection holds under stressful times.