3 Tips for Finding a Construction Lawyer
If you own a construction company, it’s important to remain protected. This doesn’t only mean keeping your workers and equipment safe. It’s important to focus on the protection of your entire construction business. Unfortunately, there are times when almost every construction company has to deal with legal issues. When these times arrive, it’s important to have a construction lawyer on your side. With that in mind, here are three tips for finding the right construction lawyer.
- Finding Someone with Experience in Your Industry
You certainly wouldn’t want to hire a divorce attorney for construction disputes. Considering that, the first step you’ll want to take is finding a construction law firm. These lawyers work with clients specifically from the construction industry. This ensures that you’re able to speak with a firm that understands the needs of your construction business. - Reviews or Testimonials from Previous Clients
You’ll want to dig deep and do your research while selecting a construction lawyer. Therefore, another important step is to find any reviews about any lawyer you’re interested in partnering with. Be warned, customers receiving a negative experience are more likely to leave reviews. If you’re not wanting to wade through online reviews, consider asking your lawyer about testimonials from past clients. - Ability to Prepare a Plan Based on Your Situation
It’s also important for a lawyer to realize that going to trial isn’t always the wisest choice. For instance, alternative dispute resolution or ADR is highly preferred within the construction industry. This type of dispute resolution works well for claims involving both small and large sums of money. In fact, data from the American Arbitration Association shows that the largest case resolved by an arbitrator was for a claim worth $232 million. This process is able to solve many types of disputes, without anyone having to go trial. If your lawyer recommends alternative dispute resolution over a trial, it’s wise to trust this advice.
To summarize, there are several steps to follow in order to find a construction lawyer. Unfortunately, legal disputes often come with the territory of owning your own construction companies. These disputes are also known to have devastating effects on a business. In fact, statistics show that over 40% of the entire construction workforce was eliminated from April 2006 to January 2011. If you want your business to succeed in this ever changing industry, consider partnering with a construction lawyer.
