I have a degree in legal studies, work as a property manager for a lawyer, and have dealt with many other lawyers and lawsuits (in addition to being an electrical contractor). [Linked Image] The one thing that I have learned from all of this is that NO lawyer is an expert in all areas of law. The law is just too broad of a field to be knowledgeable in all of it. SO, you definitely need to educate yourself on contract clauses that you would like to have in your contract and submit them to your attorney in writing.

Let me give you an example to illustrate my point. I have been through numerous training courses in commercial real estate and leasing. I have assisted in the drafting of many leases and other documents. (Not bragging, just need to show that I know my stuff.) One of my tenant clients asked for me to submit a copy of the landlord's lease to their attorney for review - so I did. I had already reviewed the lease and realized that several clauses needed to be added to protect my client. But the lawyer came back several days later and said, "it looks like standard lease language to me. I told them it would be ok to sign." If I hadn't have known about these other clauses myself, they would have never been added to the lease to protect the client. This guy might have been a great lawyer...but he certainly wasn't a great commercial real estate lawyer.

Conclusion: Educate yourself! A large percentage of cases WILL pay if you win judgment against them. Better to have a good contract and increase your chances of collecting your money. In fact, having a really solid contract will increase your chances of winning outside of court. Research your attorney! Make sure they have lots of training and experience in contract law. It also helps if they have represented electricians or other trades in the past. And don't be afraid to question them or make suggestions - they often overlook the simplest things. In fact, 99% of all lawyers simply use boilerplate language and simple pre-printed checklists when drafting contracts. Make them earn their money by ensuring that the contract is tailored to YOUR needs.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

Kevin