Find an Internet lawyer
Find an Internet lawyer
Are you looking for an Internet lawyer?
The term “Internet lawyer” can mean many things. Before looking for an Internet lawyer, you may want to consider what type of legal help you need from one.
For example, do you need an Internet lawyer to sue someone, to defend you in a lawsuit, to represent your online business, or to help you protect your intellectual property?
What does an Internet lawyer do?
An Internet lawyer often focuses on a few niches in cyber law. These include:
- Internet business transactions (contracts, joint ventures, buying and selling web businesses)
- Website legal protection (website privacy policies, membership agreements, etc.)
- Defamation, spam, and privacy lawsuits
- Intellectual property protection (copyrights, service marks, trademarks, and patents)
- Alternative dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration)
When comparing Internet lawyers, you’ll want to know which of these niches you’ll need help with the most so you can make an informed decision as to who can best represent you.
Business Attorney or Internet Lawyer
Very few business attorneys understand Internet law. This means that you’re paying them to learn about it when you hire them to handle a legal matter.
On the other hand, many Internet lawyers represent businesses both in their online and offline activities. When you retain an Internet lawyer who focuses on e-commerce, there’s a good chance he can handle many of your business legal needs as part of the representation.
Advantages of Hiring an Internet Lawyer
Unless you’re involved with a lawsuit, your Internet lawyer probably doesn’t even need to meet you in person in order to represent you. This saves you time and money.
Instead, you will communicate with each other mostly by e-mail, telephone, and sometimes using a service like Skype.
This means you can get an Internet lawyer who practices law in a different city than where you live. In fact, there may not even be an Internet law firm in your hometown because the field is so specialized.
Most other types of attorneys insist on meeting you face-to-face. This means you drive to an office, try to find parking, and pay for a meeting that could have taken a lot less time if you had simply talked with each other by phone.
How To Hire An Internet Lawyer
Once you have decided on the type of legal work you need done by an Internet lawyer, check out the websites of several Internet law firms to get a feel for what type of work they do and whether or not they really understand the Internet.
Pick one that’s a good match and schedule a confidential initial consultation with that Internet lawyer. Unless you like to waste time and money, it makes sense for that first meeting with the Internet lawyer to be held by telephone instead of at an office.
Let’s make one thing clear. An independent contractor agreement should never be used in your Internet business to disguise an employer-employee relationship. If you get caught doing this with an employee, you could be held liable for payroll taxes and some nasty penalties. Simply not worth the risk.