Before you hire a business lawyer, ask whether they've checked for conflicts with the other side, who will actually do the work, how you'll be billed and in what increments, how quickly they respond, and what the engagement does not cover. Confirm the lawyer is in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia, and get the answers in a written engagement letter before any work starts.
A small business usually hires a lawyer under some pressure: a contract waiting for a signature, a customer who stopped paying, a partner dispute. That's exactly when it's easy to skip the questions that prevent surprises later.
These questions work for any Georgia business lawyer, including us. A good lawyer will be glad you asked them.
1. Have you checked for conflicts?
Before discussing details, a firm should check that it doesn't represent anyone on the other side of your matter in a way that conflicts with representing you. Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.7 governs conflicts of interest. Give the firm the full names of the other people and companies involved, and ask whether the check is clear.
2. Who will actually do the work?
At many firms, more than one person works on a matter: a supervising lawyer, an associate attorney, and staff. That's often efficient, and it can lower the cost, because associate time is usually billed at a lower rate. What matters is that you know the arrangement before you sign.
- Which lawyer is responsible for my matter?
- Will an associate or staff member handle parts of it, and which parts?
- Who do I call with a quick question, and who do I call when it's urgent?
3. How will I be billed?
Ask whether the work will be billed hourly, as a fixed fee for a defined project, or through a monthly plan, and what the rates are for each person who will work on it. For hourly work, ask about the billing increment (many firms record time in tenths of an hour), whether short calls and emails are billed, and how expenses are charged.
Georgia Rule 1.5(b) requires the scope of the representation and the basis or rate of the fee and expenses to be communicated to you, preferably in writing, before or within a reasonable time after the work starts. At Parisi Law Firm, the standard hourly rates are $400 for the managing attorney and $300 for an associate attorney. Our guide to what a business lawyer costs explains the billing models in more detail.
4. How fast will you respond, and how will you keep me updated?
Georgia Rule 1.4 requires a lawyer to keep a client reasonably informed about the status of the matter and to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. "Promptly" can mean different things to different firms, so ask for specifics: how quickly calls and emails are returned, and whether that changes when something is urgent.
If you choose a monthly plan, the response time may be written into the agreement. In Parisi Law Firm's Outside General Counsel Program, for example, Tier 1 responds within one business day, Tier 2 responds the same business day to requests received by 1:00 p.m., and Tier 3 responds the same business day and adds a direct line to the supervising attorney for time-sensitive matters.
5. What is outside the scope?
Knowing what a lawyer won't do is as important as knowing what they will. Many business engagements leave out some or all of the following, or handle them under a separate agreement:
- Filing or defending a lawsuit, arbitration, or an appeal.
- Tax returns and tax planning, which usually belong with your CPA.
- Real estate closings, patents, and securities offerings.
- Personal legal matters of the owners.
- Matters in another state.
6. Have you worked with businesses like mine?
Construction trades, retailers, service companies, and professional practices run into different legal problems. A contractor's subcontract raises lien, notice, and pay-if-paid questions that a retail lease doesn't. Ask what kinds of businesses the lawyer works with and what issues they see most often in your industry. For trade contractors, our Georgia Construction Payment Guide shows the kinds of deadlines to ask about.
7. What do you see as the options and the risks?
Ask the lawyer to lay out more than one path, including handling it yourself or doing nothing, if either is reasonable, and the main risk of each. Be cautious about anyone who promises a particular outcome.
8. Are you licensed and in good standing?
You can check any Georgia lawyer in the State Bar of Georgia's member directory, which shows whether a lawyer is an active member in good standing and whether there is public discipline on record.
9. Will I get an engagement letter?
Get the scope, the fee arrangement, who does the work, and how either side can end the engagement in writing before work begins. If the letter includes a clause requiring fee disputes to go to arbitration, Georgia Rule 1.5(b) requires your informed consent in writing, with that clause set out in its own paragraph that both you and the lawyer initial.
10. What happens if we part ways?
You can end a lawyer's engagement. When a representation ends, Georgia Rule 1.16(d) requires the lawyer to take reasonable steps to protect your interests, including giving reasonable notice, allowing time to hire other counsel, surrendering papers and property you're entitled to, and refunding any advance payment of fee that has not been earned. Ask how your file would be transferred.
The questions, and what a clear answer sounds like
| Ask | A clear answer tells you |
|---|---|
| Have you checked for conflicts? | The check is done, or what the firm needs from you to do it |
| Who will do the work? | The responsible lawyer, who else is involved, and who to call |
| How will I be billed? | The model, each person's rate, the billing increment, and how expenses are charged |
| How fast will you respond? | A specific response time, and what happens when it's urgent |
| What's not included? | The work that needs a separate agreement or another professional |
| Have you worked with businesses like mine? | The issues the lawyer sees most in your industry |
| Are you in good standing? | You can confirm it yourself on the State Bar directory |
| Will I get an engagement letter? | Yes, before work starts |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a lawyer for my small business?
Ask about conflicts, who will do the work, how billing works, how fast the lawyer responds, and what isn't included. Check the lawyer's standing with the State Bar of Georgia, and get the terms in a written engagement letter before work starts.
Is it a problem if an associate works on my matter?
Not necessarily. Associates often bill at a lower rate, which can reduce the cost. What matters is knowing who is responsible for your matter and who you'll be working with.
Can I change business lawyers?
Yes. When a representation ends, Georgia Rule 1.16(d) requires the lawyer to give reasonable notice, surrender papers and property you're entitled to, and refund any advance fee that hasn't been earned.
Sources
This guide is general information about Georgia law as of November 11, 2026. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every case turns on its own facts. Talk to a lawyer about your situation before you rely on a deadline or rule described here.