What Modern Business Owners Really Need from Their Legal Team

When you hear the word “lawyer,” what comes to mind? For many, it’s a well-groomed person in a suit who charges hundreds of dollars an hour to argue and twist words around, no matter if they’re right or wrong. Which I get. I’ve seen that stereotype in action.

But there’s so much more to the profession of law—and to the people who work in it. For example, one of the reasons I became a lawyer was to help business owners and entrepreneurs navigate risks, seize opportunities and build strong companies. I’ve guided clients through everything from structuring international deals to safeguarding their personal and commercial assets.

That fascinates me, the process of law, taking on a challenge and solving it. But what also fascinates me is the impact law can have when done well. One of my proudest professional moments came when an international law journal published an article I wrote in which I advocated legislative change to protect victims of human trafficking. That’s purpose-driven advocacy and I try to bring it to every client relationship.

A lot of lawyers do demolition work, dismantling opponents in the courtroom or the boardroom. I much prefer to build. When I help someone start a business, get all the pieces in place then hit the ground running, that’s extremely satisfying.

Indeed, this philosophy shapes all that I do. I didn’t become a lawyer to capitalize on the problems of others. I became a lawyer because the law has the power to transform a business—or a life.

An ounce of prevention

A lot of people view lawyers as emergency responders—someone you call in after the fire starts. I see it differently. I like to think that my job isn’t just about putting out fires. Rather, it’s about making sure they never happen in the first place. It’s about first steps and guiding entrepreneurs through them. Helping them incorporate correctly, protect their intellectual property, structure partnerships—then watching them thrive.

But to do this, I first need to really understand my clients and where they want to go. I need to ask questions. What keeps them up at night? What does success look like in five years? It’s only by asking the right questions and listening to the answers that lawyers can spot issues before they become problems.

The math is simple. A well-structured operating agreement today prevents a costly partnership dispute tomorrow. Proper estate planning now ensures business continuity later. In short, professional legal help makes it easy for clients to focus on what they do best: growing their business and living their best lives.

The AI transformation

Good lawyers see around corners—and what they see now is a coming AI revolution. What I see is an AI transformation that, ultimately, will create more change than the internet did.

Certainly, AI will reshape the world of law. Already, it’s automating repetitive tasks and reducing costs. But what AI won’t do is replace lawyers. In fact, it will make experienced legal counsel more valuable, not less.

The simple truth is that no company can shoulder the risk of AI getting it wrong. And that’s why AI won’t replace human lawyers anytime soon—because companies can’t afford the legal jeopardy of AI going offtrack, which it can and does. If AI mishandles customer data, that could cause a violation of privacy rules. If AI generates content with errors, that could bring a lawsuit.

To protect themselves, businesses must put in place strict terms of AI use, a clear privacy policy to comply with data laws and strong IP protections like trademarks for their brand and copyrights for original content. AI can help with many tasks but critical legal decisions still require human judgment to avoid costly mistakes and liabilities.

Yes, AI is a great tool. But powerful tools require skilled operators. AI may handle routine tasks but attorneys will still be doing plenty of practice at the top of their license, focusing on complex problem-solving and strategic guidance.

3 general rules for every new business

Many entrepreneurs these days are launching with the help of AI and other technologies, operating under the assumption that they can put off professional legal assistance until their business is “big enough.”

But by then it’s often too late. Let’s say you just started a popup store selling fresh-baked cookies. What happens if a customer has an allergic reaction and you get sued? What happens if you don’t have the right insurance? The truth is that a single lawsuit or tax penalty can devastate a growing business—and proper planning costs far less than damage control.

If you’re launching a business, here are three steps you should take, with the guidance of a skilled legal professional:

1. Get your contracts right. Generic, off-the-shelf templates won’t address your specific services, liabilities or state laws.
2. Secure your digital presence. Your website is often your first point of contact, so protect it with proper terms of use, a privacy policy and ADA compliance.
3. Bring in a tax professional early. Proper entity structuring and write-offs can save thousands from day one.

The most successful entrepreneurs I work with treat legal strategy as preventive medicine. They start by asking, “What am I missing?” Then they schedule check-ins at 6-9 months to address obstacles, followed by annual reviews to adapt to changing laws. As your business evolves—whether through hiring, scaling or bringing on partners—your legal needs will transform too.

A foundation for success

At its core, legal counsel is an essential tool for empowerment and strategic growth. At a minimum, all entrepreneurs should have two key partners: a lawyer to safeguard their interests and an accountant to optimize their finances.

Just as you wouldn’t construct a building without blueprints, you shouldn’t navigate the complexities of business without trusted advisors who can help pave the way for success and prevent you from tripping over avoidable obstacles.

LegalZoom provides access to independent attorneys and self-service tools. LegalZoom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, except where authorized through its subsidiary law firm LZ Legal Services, LLC. Any opinions expressed by the author are their own and are not on behalf of LegalZoom.