Starting a company is hard enough without worrying about the legal stuff. Whether it’s setting up your business, signing contracts, or protecting your ideas, having a lawyer who knows the startup world can make a huge difference. But finding the right one isn’t as simple as just Googling “lawyers near me.” Startups have unique legal needs, and the right lawyer will help you avoid rookie mistakes, save money, and protect your business as it grows.
So even though it feels obvious, here’s a quick guide on How to Find a Startup Lawyer:
1. Look for a Lawyer Who Knows Startups Inside and Out
Not every lawyer understands the crazy ride that is startup life. You’re moving fast, often with limited funding, and you need practical advice, not complicated legal memorandums. A lawyer who mostly works with big corporations might not be the best fit for you. Instead, look for someone who has experience working with startups, and if possible, with startups that are at least similar in concept to the field in which your startup is. They’ll know what you’re dealing with, whether it’s figuring out how to split equity, Intellectual Property Waivers, evaluation (Pilot) agreements, sales of digital assets, or drafting a founders’ agreement.
Questions to ask a potential lawyer:
- Do you specialize in startups?
- What type of startups do you work with?
A good startup lawyer will easily be able to answer these questions.
2. Find Someone Who Understands Your Industry
Every industry has its own set of legal issues. For example, if you’re launching SaaS (Software as a Service), you’ll need a lawyer who knows software licensing. If you’re in the medical field, regulatory hurdles and patents will be a big part of your legal landscape.
Having a lawyer who’s already familiar with your industry will save you time (and possibly a lot of headaches). They’ll already know the common traps and can give you tailored advice that’s specific to your business.
3. Ask the Right Questions in Your Initial Meeting
“Wait what, initial meeting?” Yes, we know that many lawyers – especially in the U.S. – charge for every minute, every email, every “hello”, but many startup lawyers, including yours truly, will not charge for an introduction meeting. But be fair: the purpose of this meeting is to briefly tell about yourself and your startup, and to get to know a bit about the lawyer. It is not an opportunity to get all your legal questions answered (if that’s what you need, book a paid consultation).
Anyway, once you’ve got a shortlist of potential lawyers, it’s time to meet them. Treat this like a combination between a date (in search of a best friend) and a job interview. A job interview because you’re hiring them, and a date, because you’re going to be spending a lot of time with them, so make sure you at least enjoy their company. Don’t be rude and ask 50 questions but do feel free to ask a few of the important ones. Here’s a few examples:
- What experience do you have with startups like mine?
- What is your availability?
- What do you think are the top legal priorities for my business?
- How do you typically charge startups? (see next point for more on this)
- Is there anything else important that I should know?
A lawyer with startup experience will know your priorities: protecting your business, raising money, and keeping costs down.
4. Understand Their Fee Structure
An important part of knowing how to find a startup lawyer is knowing how much you can or can’t afford. 
Let’s face it: startups don’t always have a ton of cash lying around for legal fees. The good news? Many lawyers who specialize in startups understand this and the good ones will help you understand what you really need (now) and what legal issues can be dealt with later.
A good rule of thumb to know if the lawyer really cares about your needs is if he tells you that you don’t need to do everything here and now. A lawyer who is trying to sell will scare you into thinking that you need everything done now! A lawyer who works with startups knows that many don’t have the budget to do that, and if they care about you, they will help you prioritize what is needed urgently, and what can wait.
Back to fee structures: most lawyers in the U.S. charge an hourly rate, and as mentioned, this includes every single minute – from the “hello”. Others charge a flat or fixed fee for specific tasks (like incorporating your company or drafting a founders’ agreement). In some of the larger firms, especially in Israel, you might hear of the deferred payment option – meaning you don’t pay until you raise X amount of funding or reach Y profits. Some might even agree to take a small amount of equity in exchange for their services.
Each of the above methods has its’ advantages and disadvantages. The hourly rate option being the least good for you, and fixed prices being best because they offer certainty. If you take the deferred payment option, just make sure it is clear when and how much you’ll eventually need to pay.
5. Make Sure They’re a Good Fit for the Long Haul
When you find a lawyer for your startup, you’re not just hiring them for a one-off task. As your business grows, you’ll need ongoing legal support – whether it’s bringing on employees, negotiating partnerships, or maybe even prepping for an acquisition. That’s why it’s so important to find a lawyer you trust and feel comfortable working with for the long term.
Ask yourself:
- Do they communicate clearly? Are they nice to talk with?
- Are they responsive when I have questions?
- Do they seem genuinely interested in my business?
A good startup lawyer will not only handle your legal needs but will also act as a trusted advisor, helping you make smarter business decisions as you scale.
6. Look for Responsiveness and Availability
When you’re building a startup, speed matters. You need a lawyer who’s quick to respond to your emails, calls, or texts. Whether you’re negotiating a critical contract or closing a round of funding, delays can cost you. During your initial conversations, pay attention to how responsive they are. Are they quick to reply? Do they have a fair level of availability? (this doesn’t mean they’ll drop everything for you, and it doesn’t mean that their calendar is completely available – that’s a bad sign, but if you get the feeling that you’ll being talking to their secretary more than them, they might not be the best fit.)
7. Read Testimonials and Ask for References
One of the best ways to know if a lawyer is a good fit is by hearing from other clients. Testimonials and references are great ways to get a sense of how a lawyer works in practice. Check out reviews on their website (preferably videos and not text – which can be manipulated) or ask if they can provide references from other startups they’ve helped (this isn’t always possible because of confidentiality, but you can try).
Look for feedback on things like:
- How easy they are to work with.
- Whether they offered practical advice.
- If they were proactive in spotting potential problems.
This will give you a clearer picture of what it’s like to work with them day to day.
8. Large firm or private practice?
Each have their advantages, but we’re biased towards private practices. But we’ll try be objective: big firms can offer you 360 support, with various departments that can answer a wide variety of legal questions. That said, and even if you do meet with a partner, the person actually doing most of the work will usually be a junior lawyer, over-worked, underpaid and often under-experienced. Additionally, you’ll be paying extremely expensive hourly rates – for everything (I’ve even heard of a story in which the client was charged for the time it took the lawyer to respond to the client’s email in which the client was asking why the bill is so high…😊). On the other hand, with private practices the prices are usually better, the attention is more personal, and you get what you see – meaning the lawyer you meet with, will usually be the lawyer doing all the work for you. So, you’re getting personal attention, from an experienced attorney at more decent prices. The only downside might be IF you grow fast, they may not be able to support some of your needs.
Conclusion on How to Find a Startup Lawyer:
Finding the right startup lawyer isn’t just about qualifications – it’s about finding someone who understands the challenges of startup life, is business savvy and cares about your needs.
