13 reasons to use a solicitor

Mark Stobbs

The Law Society

What we do

The Law Society

Represents

Supports

PromotesLaw firms in England and Wales

UK Legal Sector Size

pound25bn

GDP

What we do

The Law Society

Represents

Supports

PromotesLaw firms in England and Wales

UK Legal Sector Size

pound25bn

GDP

UK Legal Sector Size

pound25bn

GDP

Fact and figures

128000

Practising

Solicitors

Fact and figures

9500

Law Firms

Core business of a lawyer

Reasons to talk to a lawyer

Early days

Your company structure

The structure of your business is vital to your success

as you start up and expand

If you are going into business with other people you

might need a shareholders agreement or partnership

arrangement to make sure you get a fair return for

your financial or non-financial investment Your

solicitor can explain the different options and advise

on the best one for your business - partnership

limited company or limited liability partnership - and

can even set up the option you choose

Cash is king

Employment

Employment Employment law is a complicated area and is

constantly changing Most employment disagreements

are caused by badly-drafted service contracts or

dismissal procedures that dont meet legal

requirements Your solicitor can check on your

contracts and procedures to prevent these kinds of

disagreements and help protect you from

employment-related legal action

Financing and Taxation

You may also want to find out what sources of finance

are available and what their legal implications are

Should you mortgage the family home This can have

major legal implications Are lenders insisting on

unfair terms Could you be getting a better deal with

your bank Your solicitor will explain these areas and

can even help negotiate finance on your behalf

Your solicitor can also give you advice on issues

including the tax implications of different business

models and the best time to start your financial year

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Core business of a lawyer

Reasons to talk to a lawyer

Early days

Your company structure

The structure of your business is vital to your success

as you start up and expand

If you are going into business with other people you

might need a shareholders agreement or partnership

arrangement to make sure you get a fair return for

your financial or non-financial investment Your

solicitor can explain the different options and advise

on the best one for your business - partnership

limited company or limited liability partnership - and

can even set up the option you choose

Cash is king

Employment

Employment Employment law is a complicated area and is

constantly changing Most employment disagreements

are caused by badly-drafted service contracts or

dismissal procedures that dont meet legal

requirements Your solicitor can check on your

contracts and procedures to prevent these kinds of

disagreements and help protect you from

employment-related legal action

Financing and Taxation

You may also want to find out what sources of finance

are available and what their legal implications are

Should you mortgage the family home This can have

major legal implications Are lenders insisting on

unfair terms Could you be getting a better deal with

your bank Your solicitor will explain these areas and

can even help negotiate finance on your behalf

Your solicitor can also give you advice on issues

including the tax implications of different business

models and the best time to start your financial year

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Reasons to talk to a lawyer

Early days

Your company structure

The structure of your business is vital to your success

as you start up and expand

If you are going into business with other people you

might need a shareholders agreement or partnership

arrangement to make sure you get a fair return for

your financial or non-financial investment Your

solicitor can explain the different options and advise

on the best one for your business - partnership

limited company or limited liability partnership - and

can even set up the option you choose

Cash is king

Employment

Employment Employment law is a complicated area and is

constantly changing Most employment disagreements

are caused by badly-drafted service contracts or

dismissal procedures that dont meet legal

requirements Your solicitor can check on your

contracts and procedures to prevent these kinds of

disagreements and help protect you from

employment-related legal action

Financing and Taxation

You may also want to find out what sources of finance

are available and what their legal implications are

Should you mortgage the family home This can have

major legal implications Are lenders insisting on

unfair terms Could you be getting a better deal with

your bank Your solicitor will explain these areas and

can even help negotiate finance on your behalf

Your solicitor can also give you advice on issues

including the tax implications of different business

models and the best time to start your financial year

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Early days

Your company structure

The structure of your business is vital to your success

as you start up and expand

If you are going into business with other people you

might need a shareholders agreement or partnership

arrangement to make sure you get a fair return for

your financial or non-financial investment Your

solicitor can explain the different options and advise

on the best one for your business - partnership

limited company or limited liability partnership - and

can even set up the option you choose

Cash is king

Employment

Employment Employment law is a complicated area and is

constantly changing Most employment disagreements

are caused by badly-drafted service contracts or

dismissal procedures that dont meet legal

requirements Your solicitor can check on your

contracts and procedures to prevent these kinds of

disagreements and help protect you from

employment-related legal action

Financing and Taxation

You may also want to find out what sources of finance

are available and what their legal implications are

Should you mortgage the family home This can have

major legal implications Are lenders insisting on

unfair terms Could you be getting a better deal with

your bank Your solicitor will explain these areas and

can even help negotiate finance on your behalf

Your solicitor can also give you advice on issues

including the tax implications of different business

models and the best time to start your financial year

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Cash is king

Employment

Employment Employment law is a complicated area and is

constantly changing Most employment disagreements

are caused by badly-drafted service contracts or

dismissal procedures that dont meet legal

requirements Your solicitor can check on your

contracts and procedures to prevent these kinds of

disagreements and help protect you from

employment-related legal action

Financing and Taxation

You may also want to find out what sources of finance

are available and what their legal implications are

Should you mortgage the family home This can have

major legal implications Are lenders insisting on

unfair terms Could you be getting a better deal with

your bank Your solicitor will explain these areas and

can even help negotiate finance on your behalf

Your solicitor can also give you advice on issues

including the tax implications of different business

models and the best time to start your financial year

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Employment

Employment Employment law is a complicated area and is

constantly changing Most employment disagreements

are caused by badly-drafted service contracts or

dismissal procedures that dont meet legal

requirements Your solicitor can check on your

contracts and procedures to prevent these kinds of

disagreements and help protect you from

employment-related legal action

Financing and Taxation

You may also want to find out what sources of finance

are available and what their legal implications are

Should you mortgage the family home This can have

major legal implications Are lenders insisting on

unfair terms Could you be getting a better deal with

your bank Your solicitor will explain these areas and

can even help negotiate finance on your behalf

Your solicitor can also give you advice on issues

including the tax implications of different business

models and the best time to start your financial year

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Financing and Taxation

You may also want to find out what sources of finance

are available and what their legal implications are

Should you mortgage the family home This can have

major legal implications Are lenders insisting on

unfair terms Could you be getting a better deal with

your bank Your solicitor will explain these areas and

can even help negotiate finance on your behalf

Your solicitor can also give you advice on issues

including the tax implications of different business

models and the best time to start your financial year

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Protect yourself

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Premises

PROPERTY MATTERS

When choosing premises for your business it is

important that you fully understand the terms of the

lease Can the landlord increase the rent If so by

how much Will you find yourself paying ever-

increasing service charges Will you need planning

permission for a change of use If you choose to run

your business from home what are the restrictions

Your solicitor can help you with all these business

property questions

Business models

Goods and Services

Goods and services When buying or selling goods and services it is

important to know your legal duties What could

contract terms mean for your business What about

product liability What can you legally say in adverts

and promotional materials A solicitor can cover all

these points in detail and if necessary refer you to a

specialist

Equity

Permissions

Intellectual Property

Protecting your ideas - intellectual

property Intellectual property (IP) refers to ideas you create

and legally own Example of IP can include inventions

literary and artistic works designs symbols names

and images

Your solicitor can help you protect your designs from

competitors who may want to steal your ideas

whether its copying your trading name and logo or

the products themselves By owning your designs you

can make money from them by allowing other people

companies to use them or at a later date you could

sell them to someone else

It is important that if you are using other people or

agencies to create anything for your business that

your contract states that you own the IP of anything

they create (or you have the legal right to use it as

you wish)

Goods and Services

Goods and services When buying or selling goods and services it is

important to know your legal duties What could

contract terms mean for your business What about

product liability What can you legally say in adverts

and promotional materials A solicitor can cover all

these points in detail and if necessary refer you to a

specialist

Equity

Permissions

Intellectual Property

Protecting your ideas - intellectual

property Intellectual property (IP) refers to ideas you create

and legally own Example of IP can include inventions

literary and artistic works designs symbols names

and images

Your solicitor can help you protect your designs from

competitors who may want to steal your ideas

whether its copying your trading name and logo or

the products themselves By owning your designs you

can make money from them by allowing other people

companies to use them or at a later date you could

sell them to someone else

It is important that if you are using other people or

agencies to create anything for your business that

your contract states that you own the IP of anything

they create (or you have the legal right to use it as

you wish)

Equity

Permissions

Intellectual Property

Protecting your ideas - intellectual

property Intellectual property (IP) refers to ideas you create

and legally own Example of IP can include inventions

literary and artistic works designs symbols names

and images

Your solicitor can help you protect your designs from

competitors who may want to steal your ideas

whether its copying your trading name and logo or

the products themselves By owning your designs you

can make money from them by allowing other people

companies to use them or at a later date you could

sell them to someone else

It is important that if you are using other people or

agencies to create anything for your business that

your contract states that you own the IP of anything

they create (or you have the legal right to use it as

you wish)

Permissions

Intellectual Property

Protecting your ideas - intellectual

property Intellectual property (IP) refers to ideas you create

and legally own Example of IP can include inventions

literary and artistic works designs symbols names

and images

Your solicitor can help you protect your designs from

competitors who may want to steal your ideas

whether its copying your trading name and logo or

the products themselves By owning your designs you

can make money from them by allowing other people

companies to use them or at a later date you could

sell them to someone else

It is important that if you are using other people or

agencies to create anything for your business that

your contract states that you own the IP of anything

they create (or you have the legal right to use it as

you wish)

Intellectual Property

Protecting your ideas - intellectual

property Intellectual property (IP) refers to ideas you create

and legally own Example of IP can include inventions

literary and artistic works designs symbols names

and images

Your solicitor can help you protect your designs from

competitors who may want to steal your ideas

whether its copying your trading name and logo or

the products themselves By owning your designs you

can make money from them by allowing other people

companies to use them or at a later date you could

sell them to someone else

It is important that if you are using other people or

agencies to create anything for your business that

your contract states that you own the IP of anything

they create (or you have the legal right to use it as

you wish)

Suppliers and Customers

SUPPLY CHAIN Your business will have suppliers and possibly partners

which you rely upon to continue supplying consistent

service to your own clients Do you have contracts

which specify service level agreements Are you

protected against shortfalls in quantity or delivery

Are you locked into harmful penalties in the event

that you no longer wish to buy from a supplier

Risk amp Compliance

MANAGING RISKCompliance ndash whatever Government may say there

are increasing rules involving health and safety anti-

money laundering who you can and cannot sell things

to Lawyers can advise you on this ndash ask for

Regulatory or Compliance lawyers

Finding a Solicitor

A comprehensive directory

Search by lsquoneedrsquo and lsquopostcodersquo

The engine offers law firms

View each law firm

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

Risk amp Compliance

MANAGING RISKCompliance ndash whatever Government may say there

are increasing rules involving health and safety anti-

money laundering who you can and cannot sell things

to Lawyers can advise you on this ndash ask for

Regulatory or Compliance lawyers

Finding a Solicitor

A comprehensive directory

Search by lsquoneedrsquo and lsquopostcodersquo

The engine offers law firms

View each law firm

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

Finding a Solicitor

A comprehensive directory

Search by lsquoneedrsquo and lsquopostcodersquo

The engine offers law firms

View each law firm

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

A comprehensive directory

Search by lsquoneedrsquo and lsquopostcodersquo

The engine offers law firms

View each law firm

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

Search by lsquoneedrsquo and lsquopostcodersquo

The engine offers law firms

View each law firm

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

The engine offers law firms

View each law firm

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

View each law firm

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

Types of Lawyer

Business Need Type of lawyer

Starting-up Corporate lawyer

Supply agreements and

licensing

Commercial lawyer

HR and People matters Employment lawyer

Premises Commercial Property lawyer

Ideas brands copyright Intellectual Property

LawyerCommercial

Banking and Finance Corporate Lawyer

Disagreements Dispute Lawyer or Litigator

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

What you can expect from a lawyer

In most cases you can expect from a lawyer

bull An initial discussion without charge or obligation

bull A written proposal explaining how your needs will

be met

bull A letter of engagement explaining how your needs

will be delivered

bull Some flexibility around scoping your needs and

the cost of their service

bull Fee notes supported by a narrative

Contact Details

Contact Details