When people think about construction law, their first question may be, “what is it?” As the name suggests, any legal issues or problems that are related to the construction of any kind of building fall under the umbrella term, “construction law.” Because of the nature of the construction industry, the laws that are related may include federal, state and local laws. Most of the federal laws deal with workplace safety and discrimination in employment. State laws often are additions to the federal rules and may also include environmental concerns and other rules. Most often, the rules from local governments (county or city) have more to do with matters of zoning and noise pollution. Lawyers for construction companies help businesses when they have been hired to do a job but have not been paid. These same lawyers can help contractors when they need legal help.
- If you find yourself in a position where you need to talk to a construction law firm, you may not know where to start or what to do to find the right lawyer for your needs. The issues you may need help from a construction lawyer can vary from being relatively simple issues to more complicated problems. There really is no problem that is too big nor too small for most construction attorneys. When the issues could lead to a loss of your license or ability to work, you want to make sure you have the right lawyer by your side.
- Look for the right kind of lawyer with the right kind of experience. You would never dream of going to a dermatologist if you have broken your leg. By the same token, if you have legal issues related to the construction business or job in it, you need to talk to lawyers for construction companies. Even under the umbrella of “construction law,” there are a lot of specialties that you need to think about. The kind of lawyer you need to hire will depend on your situation and the kind of legal problems you are encountering. There are different lawyers who work in litigation, bid problems, the guidelines put down by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. You want to hire and work with a lawyer who has a lot of experience dealing with your kind of case.
- They need to know the local terrain. All construction companies have to abide by the federal laws, when you are dealing with issues of construction law, you also have to factor in state and local laws. You need a lawyer in your area who knows the local, legal issues that may pertain to your case.
- Make sure your lawyer has the right certifications. They should have the right professional affiliations and certifications. You want a lawyer who is certified by your state bar association. When you are dealing with issues of construction law, they should also be a member of various building associations. Ask them directly but then make it a point to look into their claims. It is fairly easy to check up on the qualifications of most lawyers for construction companies.
- Talk to all of your friends and family. Do you know other people who work in the construction business? If you work in it, the chances are good that you know other people who also work in it. The chances are also good that you know people who have had to turn to lawyers for construction companies for help. Talk to the people you know and trust and get information about who they used, how they found them and what the experience was like.
- Look up the lawyers online. You can basically find anything you need online and that includes reviews and comments about all kinds of lawyers. You can also check with the American Bar Association. Facebook has a lot of groups and pages set up to promote local businesses, so you can look there. A quick Google search can help you find what you need. Also, take some time to look at the different law firms’ websites.
You may expect to go your entire career without ever needing to talk to lawyers for construction companies but it is nice to know they are there should you ever need to do just that.
