1. How to Hire a Lawyer
FALL 2018

2. When do I need a lawyer?
When you should be forming an entity to get liability protection
Before you form your entity
Before you commit too far into a name
When you think you have protectable IP
Disclosure issues
When you have people working on your project who aren’t being paid
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

3. What about DIY Lawyering?
Law firm resources
WilmerHale Launch
FoundersWorkbench
CooleyGo
Non law firm resources
Clerki
LegalZoom
Drawbacks
No one probing to ask the important questions
Limited customization
Cost of fixing later
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

4. Choosing your team Get referrals Prepare for your meeting
Read website, bios
Ask about prior deals/clients?
Think about large vs. small
Level of service
Expertise
Need to refer out (having multiple law firms sending bills)
Evaluate connections and access
Look for investment of time in non-billable activities
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

5. What should my lawyer know?
Entity formation
IP and licensing
Other contracts
VC and private equity transactions
Immigration?
Others?
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

6. What questions should I ask?
How long have you been doing this kind of work?
Will you be doing the work?
Finders vs. minders/grinders
What do you already know about my kind of technology/industry?
Do you have other similar clients?
What do you do to be involved in the tech/entrepreneurship communities?
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

7. The Engagement Letter What should it cover?
How specific should it be about fees?
What does it say about conflict
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

8. How do lawyers bill? Free help (clinics) Clinics in Boston area
Drawbacks
Hourly billing (and increments)
Project billing
Deferred billing
Expenses
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9. How can I lower my bills? Be organized Research before asking
Be efficient (save up your questions)
Be reliable
Get itemized bills
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

10. Building the relationship
Choose a lawyer you like
Choose someone who doesn’t just say no
Choose someone who shows interest in your business/technology
Do they want to know how it works?
Do they offer non-legal ideas?
Invite them to come see (off the clock)
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic

11. Questions?
To meet with the Entrepreneurship & IP Clinic or learn more about our services, visit sites.bu.edu/ELawClinic
Entrepreneurship & Intellectual Property Clinic