Getting the most from an intellectual property law firms requires preparation before meeting with one of their attorneys.
There are a lot of intellectual property law firms out there. We’ve previously discussed how to find one that will benefit you the most. One of the important steps in figuring out which intellectual property law firm would be best for you is to interview one or more of their attorneys. We’ll explain how to prepare for one of these initial interviews and help you figure out which intellectual property law firm to hire.
Conduct a Simple Search Online
Researching the law firm online is a must and is easy to do. Go to a search engine like Bing or Google, type in the law firm’s name and see what results pop up. You may find news about attorneys that have joined (or left) the firm, some of the more notable victories the law firm has celebrated and any problems the law firm might be having. When it comes to learning any bad things about the firm, you may have to rely more on “grapevine” sources such as social media or legal blogs.
Determine What Your Goals Are
When you hire an attorney, you control your objectives, while your attorney controls how you get there. So it’s understandable that you may not know what legal cause of action to use when suing someone or what steps are necessary to protect your intellectual property rights. Figuring these things out is your attorney’s job. But to make those decisions, your attorney will need to know what you ultimately want to accomplish.
Have Your Questions Ready
The initial consultation with an intellectual property law firm is an opportunity to learn more about the firm. You can gather information that’s not readily available online or by talking to others. You will learn about the fees, find out who actually works on your case, and explore the firm’s philosophies. If you need litigation help, you may want to hire a lawyer who is eager to negotiate and resolve a dispute without resorting to the courts. If that’s what you want, you’ll need to confirm this during your first meeting with the firm and make sure it’s not filled with “scorched Earth” type of attorneys.
Confirm How Much You’re Willing to Pay for an Intellectual Property Attorney
Not all attorneys or law firms are the same. Some cost more than others, but just because you pay more doesn’t mean you’ll get more. And even if you do get better representation for a higher price, you may not be able to afford it. Before meeting with your intellectual property law firm for the first time to determine if they’re worth hiring, you’ll need to get a rough idea of what a comparable firm should charge for the work you need. Rates will vary based on size and reputation of the firm, services provided and local legal market.
Lastly, what an attorney charges is sometimes negotiable. Depending on the type of case you have, you may be able to negotiate a lower contingency fee percentage or a reduced hourly rate.
Weeding through the many intellectual property law firms will take some time and effort on your part. To learn more about the intellectual property law firm of Wilbanks Law Firm, P.C., feel free to contact us online.