Did you know the cost counterfeiting was expected to exceed $3 trillion in 2022?
With the theft of intellectual property always on the rise, it’s more important now than ever to keep your ideas safe. That’s why knowing your options for attorneys is so important, as it can help you keep your creations secure for the long haul.
There’s a lot to be on the lookout for, but that doesn’t mean you have to be confused when the time comes to select intellectual property attorneys. Read on to learn everything you need to know.
Search for Their Bar Association
Bar associations are the professional organizations that most attorneys are associated with. They’re typically going to help lawyers network with each other while staying current on essential legal developments. There are three levels of bar associations:
- City
- State
- National
Almost all bar associations have specific committees or sections for each specialty, ranging from criminal law all the way to real estate. Many bar associations have their own websites that have been organized by specialty.
When you’re looking for an attorney in your area, see if there is a page specific to “intellectual property” law. If there is, you’re likely to also see a phone number or email address you can contact attorneys at.
Seek Out Client Referrals
When you’re redoing a part of your house, it’s common to speak with your neighbors or even family to find out about contractors they’ve worked with in the past and would recommend. The same goes if you’re looking for a new restaurant to try or even a new doctor to visit.
During your hunt for a good intellectual property attorney, don’t be afraid to seek out the advice of other business owners. Whether you own a clothing shop, grocery store, or even a luxury boutique, it’s essential to reach out to other store owners and gather opinions.
Now, you don’t necessarily need to contact direct competition — especially if it would create an awkward situation. Instead, create a list of businesses that are similar to yours, but not identical. Who is your indirect competition, and why would they be able to help you?
From there, you can move to get into contact with each of them. You might even end up surprised at the amount of help people are willing to give you. Nobody wants to see a fellow business owner fail, and they’re just as protective of their ideas as you are of your own. They’ll understand the research you’re doing and are likely to be supportive of your endeavors.
Get Online
It’s also important to not underestimate the power of reading online reviews, though.
Lawyers with plenty of testimonies are a reliable source you can turn to. If other business owners can vouch on their behalf, they’re likely to be more worthy of your time than you might’ve originally thought.
Remember, you’re reading the opinions of real people when you read these reviews. It’s not exactly the same as talking to someone in person, but online reviews are a great place to turn if you don’t have immediate access to other business owners or creative people in your area.
Start Your Research
Once you have a few names, it’s time to start your deep-dive research. You can find out a lot about an attorney from their online reputation. Whether it’s their character, skills, or even their ethics, you can probably find some testimony to it online. You’re also likely to find news articles, publications, and other written pieces about lawyers online if they’ve been in practice for a while.
Be sure to click on those articles if they come up, and read through each of them carefully. This is an easy way to get to know your potential attorney without having to conduct interviews or spend time calling business owners to learn more.
Remember, finding a trustworthy attorney like Axiom Law is essential to your ideas and their well-being. Be sure to take your time during the research phase.
Conduct Interviews
Finally, once you’ve narrowed down your search even further, let’s say to three to five attorneys, it’s time to reach out and speak with them each individually.
Many attorneys offer a free 30 to 60-minute consultation where you can learn more about them and how they can help with your case. This is a great way to find out if working with them would be a good match for you, and even whether or not you’d like to work with them in the future.
It’s important to ask plenty of questions during the initial interview, especially if you’re bringing your own case to their attention. You can find out whether they’ve worked on cases like yours before, and how they might approach your own if they were to take it on.
Would you be working directly with them, or would another attorney in the practice be covering things? How much will they charge, and is it free if you don’t win?
Knowing things like this in advance is going to help a lot later down the line, and it’s essential to get the answers before you commit to working with someone.
Be Picky When You Select Intellectual Property Attorneys
When it comes time to select intellectual property attorneys, it’s important to keep your top priorities at the forefront of your hiring process. That means considering your own individual needs and then using them to select the attorney that would best work for you. Whether you’re hiring a lawyer for the first time or you’re on the hunt for a new one, these tips can help you make the best decision.
To learn more about intellectual property law and what it means for your business, check out the rest of our website.