It is rare today to find someone in the construction field who has never faced any legal issues. It can seem like someone is always waiting in the wings to single out contractors for some perceived wrong.
You should have measures in place to help shield you from legal disputes and obstacles, but do you need more protection? Some construction professionals find it advantageous to keep an attorney on retainer to help them manage the legal side of doing business.
What are the benefits?
An obvious advantage is having an attorney you can call whenever a legal question or issue arises. For example, if someone targets you in a lawsuit, you won’t have to waste time looking for counsel as it will already be in place. The same is true should you ever need to initiate litigation.
More possible benefits include the following:
- Contract drafting and review services
- Improved compliance with Arizona contractor regulations
- Guidance tailored for individual companies
Essentially, a retainer helps ensure that you have representation and a source of accurate information should the need arise.
How do you know if you need to have a firm on retainer?
If you encounter legal hurdles routinely, it could indicate the need to arrange a long-term partnership with an attorney. For example, if you see a pattern of contract disputes or compliance problems, having legal guidance readily accessible might help prevent them.
If you ultimately determine that there is no need to have a retainer arrangement, don’t hesitate to obtain experienced legal guidance if legal matter threatens your construction business.