Preparing For A Consultation With A Business Law AttorneyDuring an initial consultation, a business law attorney will ask you several key questions to gain a deeper understanding of your background and goals. They will want to hear your story. They may ask whether you’ve been dreaming about starting a business for years or whether it’s just a fresh idea you’re eager to develop further and get a sense of what realizing it might entail in the meantime. Understanding your vision helps an attorney in their ability to provide you with tailored legal advice that aligns with your ambitions.
As part of their dive into your background, they’ll ask about your current work and personal situation. This information will help them understand what this business truly means to you. Is the business a side venture, merely a passion project, or something you want to dedicate yourself to on a full-time basis? These details help the attorney grasp your level of commitment and the potential risks you might face.
Ultimately, an attorney will aim to get a sense of your fears, dreams, and expectations. They’re not just there to handle legal paperwork for you—they should want to be a supportive partner in helping you navigate the legal side of your journey. Having a sense of the motivations behind your efforts to start a business is key to providing you with the relevant legal guidance you need to do just that. Along with these broader questions, they’ll also dive into the specifics of your business and legal needs to ensure you’re set up for success.
If you’re starting from scratch, your attorney may ask you to bring a draft of a business plan to your initial consultation. Being confronted with having to map out a basic business plan will force you to think ahead about where your business will be at various benchmarks in the future. This can further help steer important decisions all the more, especially something as central as determining the type of business structure that is best for you. If you already have a company formed, you should bring any documents you’ve filed with the Secretary of State.
In addition, your attorney will want to review key documents related to your business, such as:
Anything signed between you and business partners, lenders, or investors is critical since it helps your attorney understand existing obligations you have and how to set up your business for success. They’ll also paint a comprehensive picture of your business and allow your attorney to give you extensive advice as relevant and necessary.
Craig Donnelly of Donnelly Law LLC in Illinois brings years of hands-on experience working with entrepreneurs and small business owners. He's started his own firm and has a firsthand understanding of the risks, challenges, and emotional investment involved in building a business from the ground up. He’s helped many clients navigate these hurdles, providing legal advice tailored to their individual goals.
If you’re ready to take the next step in launching or expanding your business, contact Craig for a consultation—he’s here to help you succeed every step of the way.
What sets Donnelly Law LLC apart is our approach to working with new business owners. We go beyond the seemingly transactional nature of the title of attorney and instead truly see ourselves as partners in your business journey.
Being your legal advisor is only one part of the entire picture of our services. Understanding our clients on a personal level—knowing their fears, dreams, and motivations—helps us build a relationship that goes beyond where other business attorneys may take things. We strive to be side-by-side with all of our clients, celebrating your successes and navigating your challenges.
More than this, I started my own firm—a business— and know firsthand what it feels like to step out as an entrepreneur. All the uncertainties and pressures that come with it weighed on me as they do you. This personal experience means I can empathize with you so much more than others who opt to constrain themselves to merely being a business attorney in the strictest sense.
Whether you’re worried about feeding your family or unsure of the next steps for your business, we strive to alleviate some of the fears you face by offering clear, practical guidance rooted in a relationship based on trust. We’re committed to giving you the best advice not only to protect your business but also to help it grow and thrive.
This largely comes from the tried and true experience we’ve had handling real-life cases. One startup that comes to mind as I consider these things that had the most significant impact on me—my own. When I decided to leave a secure position at a law firm—complete with a generous salary and benefits—to start my own law firm, I had a family to support with two young children.
This decision taught me that behind every startup, there are people with real fears but also real dreams. The experience of launching my firm gave me firsthand insight into the challenges entrepreneurs just like you face and the emotional rollercoaster they’ve likely gone through.
Perhaps what stuck with me the most was that I didn’t have anyone to truly work with me side-by-side as I navigated critical decisions about my business. Sure, I had former colleagues I could consult with, but they weren’t fully involved in the day-to-day decisions and forward-thinking strategies I needed to refine to be successful—and feed my family.
This experience shapes how I work with my clients to this day. I strive to be that partner who is there with them as they grow their business from the ground up. It’s incredibly rewarding to help someone not only start a business but also succeed to the point where they’re abundantly supporting their family, expanding, and creating jobs for others. That journey is why I do what I do.
For more information on Closing Thoughts, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (630) 608-2124 today.
Craig Donnelly of Donnelly Law LLC in Illinois brings years of hands-on experience working with entrepreneurs and small business owners. He's started his own firm and has a firsthand understanding of the risks, challenges, and emotional investment involved in building a business from the ground up. He’s helped many clients navigate these hurdles, providing legal advice tailored to their individual goals.
If you’re ready to take the next step in launching or expanding your business, contact Craig for a consultation—he’s here to help you succeed every step of the way.