Commercial law is a broad classification of law which encompasses public and private law, tax law, title law, etc. and is usually practiced in a civil court. Commercial law attorneys may or may not stay involved if criminal charges are filed against a business or against an employee. Nearly every business will need commercial law lawyers at some point, though rarely will it be because something went wrong. Instead, those who provide commercial law services ideally will protect their clients and prevent them from ever needing a trial. These services include:

1. A commercial law attorney can help incorporate a business or set up a partnership.
2. Commercial law lawyers draw up contracts that govern business-to-business transactions.
3. A commercial law lawyer can help enforce corporate laws.

When necessary, commercial law lawyers also help businesses protect their rights by writing cease and desist letters, forcing arbitration and litigating against other companies. Also, because there is so much to do in a commercial law practice, commercial law careers can be lucrative and fairly secure. Every business needs someone who can practice commercial law and because more businesses open every day, there is continued need for commercial law lawyers. If you are looking for someone who knows commercial law or if you want to pursue a commercial law career, here a few steps to consider.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find commercial law practices online

If you do not know someone who practices commercial law and do not have a referral, there are several websites that list commercial law lawyers and how to contact them. These websites include the lawyer's name, firm and commercial law specialties.

I recommend: Create a list of those who practice commercial law by using websites like Martindale and FindLaw.

Look for information on commercial law practitioners online

Investigate each potential commercial lawyer candidate before hiring one. The Internet has services for rating and researching commercial law attorneys which can be helpful.

I recommend: Avvo and LawyerRatingz.com both have services where you can research a lawyer, check if they have any reported misconduct, and read what past clients have said. Like all online services of this nature, the reviews should supplement, not supplant, your own findings.

For those wanting a commercial law career, investigate law school

If you think that becoming a commercial law lawyer sounds like a fulfilling career, get set for law school. There are hundreds of law schools all over the world. Though it will be an expensive education, it can be a rewarding profession.

I recommend: Begin researching law schools. Find several that you like at HG.org's list of law schools worldwide, or by searching the American Bar Association's list.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You should find a commercial law lawyer who knows the commercial law of all states in which you operate. This may require that you hire multiple lawyers.
• •  Because commercial law encompasses a number of different specialties, you may need to hire several commercial law lawyers, with different focuses in the different areas.