b'GUEST VIEWWhen, Why and How to Hire the Right AttorneyThat attorney who assisted with your traffic ticket might not be ableto help you purchase real estate. We all have our strengths, and it isChristine important for you to find an attorney who has experience in the areaTaylor you need help in, not just one you used for something else Hiring an attorney for most people is them for whatever else may arise. But ground and afterward. Why is that? At- ing tax issues, property boundary issueslike going to the dentist. It is something that is not always the best plan of attack. torneyscannotknoweverything! The and zoning issues. Bringing an attorneyyou only do when the need arises, a nec- Why shouldnt you hire the attorney reason I work in a law firm, and not as a in at the start means saving money later.essary evil. When people hear the word who already helped you buy your per- solo attorney, is so that I can surround The next time you should consult anattorney, they think of dollar signs and sonal residence or get a divorce? They myself with other attorneys who know attorney would be when creating your pa-the removal of civility. We get itbut it might not have the skill set you need. I more about certain topics than I do. An perwork.Long-termguests?Runthatdoes not always need to be that way. currently have clients who found their attorney who practices real estate for ex- agreement by an attorney. Employees?When should you have an attorney? way to me after using an attorney they ample, might not know anything about Make sure you are properly classifyingHow do you find one? The first time most had used for a residential purchase. The litigation or how to prepare your defense that employee, not offering employmentpeople interact with an attorney is when attorney then went on to botch the com- in a lawsuit. That attorney who assisted that runs afoul of your state laws, andthey are buying real estate or a business. mercial purchase and could not advise with your traffic ticket might not be able properly offering them the job to protectOften, you find whatever attorney you them on the ancillary things they needed to help you purchase real estate. We all your rights as an employer, which is espe-can for that transaction, and hold on to toknowbeforepurchasingacamp- have our strengths, and it is important cially important in at-will employmentfor you to find an attorney who has ex- states. Next, you need to make sure youperience in the area you need help in, are following all your states laws regardingnot just one you used for something else. hired employees, such as sexual harass-When to hire an attorney is pretty in- ment policies and employee handbooks.tuitive. Yes, you should have an attorney In New York for example, a sexual harass-when you first purchase your business; ment policy and training is a mandatorythey can flag issues for you upfront, ne- requirement. It can be really cheaply han-gotiate and be the bad guy if necessary. dled (even free through the state), but ifOverall, they can make sure that in the you do not follow the law because you doeventsomethingdoesgowrong,the not know it exists, it can create problemsdocuments you relied on will, in fact, for you later. Releases and waivers? Makeprotectyou.Additionally,saving sure they are drafted to fit your stategetmoney by not using an attorney can cost the full protection available in your stateyou more later. Did you make sure you for that document and do not just followput the allocations of the purchase price a template someone else provided with-in writing? This can have major tax im- out vetting it. Estate planning? Clear upplications as you continue your busi- what happens to your business if youness,andoftentemplatepurchase should pass awaymake sure you knowagreements do not cut it. I have had mul- where your assets are going.tiple clients come to me after real estate Lastly, hire an attorney when you selltransactions have gone awry. There were your campground. I know it is often athings we could have easily fixed early in time when people forego an attorney iftheprocessbutnowaremuchmore their state does not require itbut it cancostly to fix, such as accidentally assum- have repercussions. If you did not havean attorney look at the contract, youmight be stuck in a situation that createsan issue for you later on. As with buyinga property, negotiate those allocations,that is the first thing to look at. Next, isthere a non-compete that is too restric-tive? Did you leave yourself on the hookforfutureliabilityregardingenviron-mental issues? All of these things shouldhave been addressed clearly in the pur-chase agreement, ensuring you leave thetransaction with peace of mind.How do you find an attorney with ex-perience? First, word of mouth. The in-dustry is small and other campgroundowners in your area might have a rela-tionship with an attorney which they canthen pass on to you. Next, ask an ownersassociation, typically state or regional as-sociationshaveworkedwithorsug-gested attorneys to their members in thepast. Ask your other professionals! As anattorney, I do not have experience in ac-counting or insurance sales for example,but from working in the industry I canrecommendthoseprofessionalswithcampground experience. In turn, thoseprofessionals can often recommend anattorney they have crossed paths withand give you an honest review.Lastly,you can Google an attorneybut whatshould you look for?WhenGooglinganattorneyseewhat they have out there. We live in thedigital age where Googling an attorneyGuest Viewcontinued on page 3612 -May 2021Woodalls Campground Management'