abstract-13640_640When creating a new startup, after funding has been acquired one of the first things most businesses do is hire the employees that are needed for the operation of the business. However, many startup CEO's struggle with whether or not it is necessary to hire an attorney or alternatively, someone who has a legal background that can provide the advice needed to be sure the new company takes all the right steps forward legally.

Should your first hire be an attorney instead of a new designer, developer or marketer? In general, hiring an in-house attorney for a startup isn't vital until the company reaches approximately one hundred employees or begins seeing revenues of $100 million or more. However, that doesn't mean you can't retain counsel in case you need them and there are exceptions to the rules based purely on the needs of your business and the markets in which you plan to compete.

Regulatory Requirements
Some industries are cluttered with a plethora of different governmental rules and regulations that must be followed to the letter or you risk suffering penalties such as fines, or even restrictions on trade that can negatively impact your ability to do business. A lawyer is often familiar with these types of regulations and, if not, he or she should have the expertise and the resources to learn what specific regulations your business will be subjected to when choosing to operating and compete in a particular industry. Leveraging their knowledge and experience in these matters can help you be sure your new startup never runs afoul of the law.

Rules and Policy Writing
Attorneys spend a good deal of time writing and they are trained from the beginning to learn, understand and follow the rules. When creating complicated policies and procedures, a lawyer on your staff could prove to be an asset as you create employee policies. On top of that, if you are looking for government related grants or need to maintain certain certifications, they can help you navigate the complicated paperwork often involved and handle all the legal speak writing needs that accompany these certifications.

Learning New Systems
Lawyers are very good at solving problems outside the legal field as well. They are well versed on navigating the often complicated waters of various systems and have adapted to become accomplished at understanding new and often complicated systems. If your startup is entering an industry that contains a lot of systems that you will need to learn, a lawyer could make the perfect addition to your team.

While the startup culture tends to run from attorneys, feeling that they will only rain on their freewheeling parade and try to put a stop to some of the risks they want to take, depending on the needs of your business you may still want to consider hiring an attorney for your business. Their services and particular talents may be an asset to the company and could help you navigate the complicated waters of your chosen markets. A lawyer can help you cut through all red tape and explain to you how you must proceed and why it must be this way allowing you the freedom to focus on your products and services and growing your startup as quickly as possible.