16 pieces of legal advice everyone should know
Navigating the legal landscape can be daunting, but these essential pieces of advice will equip you with the knowledge to protect your interests. This article compiles insights from top legal experts to help you avoid common pitfalls. By understanding these key principles, you’ll be better prepared to handle any legal challenge that comes your way.
- Read The Fine Print
- Listen More Than You Speak
- Require Upfront Payment
- Seek Legal Help Early
- Plan For Legal Risks
- Get It In Writing
- Protect Your Ideas
- Review All Contracts
- Structure Assets Properly
- Hire A Real Lawyer
- Create A Solid Agreement
- Understand Foreign Laws
- Classify Your Team Properly
- Check Contracts For Missing Terms
- Define Partnership Exit Strategies
- Have An Up-To-Date Will
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Read The Fine Print
Always read the fine print. Contracts, insurance policies, and agreements are written to protect the party that drafted them, not you. One overlooked clause can cost thousands or strip you of rights you assumed you had.
Take car insurance. Many believe they have full coverage, but their policy might exclude uninsured motorist protection. If a reckless driver with no insurance crashes into you, you could be stuck paying for your medical bills. Reviewing the fine print and adding the right coverage could prevent financial disaster.
Employment contracts can be another trap. Non-compete clauses can block job opportunities for years. Some agreements even force employees into arbitration, taking away their right to sue in court. A lawyer reviewing the contract upfront could flag these risks before signing.
Knowing this earlier would have prevented unnecessary loss of time, money, and stress in my career. I once trusted a handshake deal without a written contract. When the other party backed out, I had no legal recourse. That mistake reinforced the importance of written agreements, clear terms, and fully understanding what you’re signing.
Never assume a contract protects you. Read every word. If something looks off, get a lawyer to review it before signing. One sentence can change everything.
Justin Lovely, Owner, Lovely Law Firm Injury Lawyers
Listen More Than You Speak
I wish I had realized earlier in my 30 years in law that listening is more powerful than talking. My legal degree and need to prove myself cost me a significant personal injury case at 28 when I interrupted a key witness, losing essential testimony that would have awarded our client compensation.
A $450,000 error taught me more than school. I now instruct our attorneys to use strategic quiet with clients, witnesses, and opposing counsel.
This idea changed my life and practice. This modest communication change deepened my connections and raised our firm’s success rate by 34%.
Sometimes, the best legal competence is letting others articulate what matters most.
Mark Hirsch, Co-founder and Personal Injury Attorney, Templer & Hirsch
Require Upfront Payment
One piece of legal advice I wish I had known earlier in my career is to always require payment in advance for legal consultations. Early on, I would often provide in-depth legal advice before securing payment, assuming that professionalism and trust would ensure proper compensation. However, I quickly learned that many clients, especially in fast-moving industries like crypto and international business law, may take the advice and disappear without paying.
Requiring upfront fees not only ensures financial security but also filters out non-serious clients, allowing me to focus on those who truly value legal guidance. Implementing this policy improved my cash flow, reduced wasted time, and ultimately helped me build a more sustainable and efficient practice.
Gökhan Cindemir, attorney at law – Turkish lawyer, Cindemir Law Office, Istanbul – Turkey.
Seek Legal Help Early
If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be: Don’t be afraid to ask for help when faced with legal paperwork. I’ve seen so many people try to handle contracts or disputes on their own, thinking they can save money or time. But it often leads to frustration, missed opportunities, or even financial loss. The truth is, spending a little on a legal consultation early on can save you a lot down the road.
What would have benefited me the most is understanding that legal issues aren’t always straightforward. Often, it’s not about the letter of the law, but about how it’s applied to the specific situation. Had I known sooner that a lawyer could offer insights that could potentially prevent major headaches, I would’ve avoided some costly mistakes.
Marcus Denning, Senior Lawyer, MK Law
Plan For Legal Risks
One piece of legal advice I wish I had known earlier is the importance of thinking ahead about legal risks instead of waiting until problems arise. Many people assume legal issues only need attention when something goes wrong, but planning in advance can prevent unnecessary stress and costly mistakes. Whether it’s signing a contract, starting a business, or following regulations, understanding the legal side early on makes everything more secure. A proactive approach allows for better decision-making, stronger protections, and fewer surprises down the road.
This advice would have helped me avoid risks and approach legal matters with more confidence. Instead of reacting to problems, I focused on building a solid legal foundation from the start. In a law firm, this mindset helps clients protect their interests and avoid future disputes, making legal guidance a tool for success rather than just damage control. It also strengthens trust, as clients appreciate knowing they are well-prepared rather than scrambling to fix mistakes. Looking back, I see how much smoother things could have been with a forward-thinking legal strategy, and I encourage others to take the same approach for long-term security and peace of mind.
Mia Mancinelli Cloud, Founder, Cloud Law Firm
Get It In Writing
Never assume a handshake deal is legally binding. A verbal agreement might feel like enough when you trust the other person, but trust is not a legal contract. Without something in writing, there is no clear proof of what was agreed upon. If a dispute comes up later, it becomes one person’s word against another’s. That can lead to misunderstandings, broken promises, and financial loss. Many people learn this lesson the hard way. A friend agrees to split the cost of something but later backs out. A contractor promises a deadline but never follows through. A business partner verbally agrees to certain terms, then changes their story. In these situations, a written contract would have provided protection. It does not have to be complicated. Even a simple email outlining the terms can help clarify expectations and prevent problems.
Paul Koenigsberg, Personal Injury Lawyer, Koenigsberg & Associates
Protect Your Ideas
I wish I had known to always protect your intellectual property. This is something key to being someone who stands out in the industry I am in. I want to have a leg to stand on to make sure I have my ideas and values protected from others taking as their own.
Paige Griffith, Lawyer, The Legal Paige
Review All Contracts
One piece of legal advice I wish I had known earlier is to have a legal professional review all contracts that our business requires clients and candidates to sign. Contracts are easy to overlook because, in most cases, you won’t need to rely on them. However, when an issue does arise, it’s often too late to prevent losses or disruptions.
I’ll give a specific example. In the past, our contracts with clients did not include an explicit non-circumvention clause. I had assumed our contract made it clear that clients were not allowed to directly contact and hire candidates we introduced to them without paying for our services. Unfortunately, I only realized otherwise after a new client exploited this loophole, using our search services for “backdoor hiring.” Since our contract’s wording wasn’t strong enough, we had no legal recourse to collect the placement fee we were due.
This experience, though frustrating, taught me a valuable lesson. I now have all our contracts reviewed by a legal expert to ensure they fully protect our firm and address potential issues. Had I done this from the start, we could have avoided financial losses and safeguarded our business from contract loopholes.
Jon Hill, Chairman & CEO, The Energists
Structure Assets Properly
One piece of legal advice I wish I had known earlier is properly structuring assets through trusts and other legal entities to reduce liability and avoid probate. Early on, I didn’t fully appreciate how essential estate planning and asset protection were, especially in real estate and business ownership. Had I set up trusts sooner, I could have better protected my assets from potential lawsuits, creditors, and other liability risks. Without the right legal structures in place, my family could face unnecessary complications, delays, and expenses if something were to happen to me. Probate proceedings can be time-consuming and costly, and without a clear plan, my loved ones might have to navigate unnecessary legal hurdles to access assets.
Additionally, using LLCs and other legal entities for property holdings would have provided stronger liability protection, ensuring that personal assets remained separate from business risks. Learning this earlier would have saved time, money, and unnecessary legal complications. The key takeaway is that proactively structuring assets isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s a crucial step for anyone looking to protect their financial future and their family’s long-term security.
Yancy Forsythe, Owner, Missouri Valley Homes
Hire A Real Lawyer
For real problems, hire a real lawyer. Sounds simple, almost too obvious, right? But trust me, the temptation to cut corners, to DIY legal matters, or rely on “good enough” advice is stronger than you think, especially when you’re bootstrapping and watching every penny.
Early on, I remember facing a contract dispute that felt…manageable. Seemed like standard stuff. We tried to handle it internally, piecing together advice from mentors and online resources. Mistake. What started as “standard” quickly escalated into a messy situation with real financial and reputational risks. Had we brought in a qualified legal expert from the outset—someone who truly specialized in contract law – they would have spotted the potential pitfalls we missed, advised on a stronger initial approach, and likely resolved the whole thing far more efficiently and favorably. We ended up spending significantly more in the long run cleaning up the mess, both in legal fees and lost opportunities.
That experience, and a few similar early bumps, hammered home a critical lesson. Legal matters, especially those with significant implications, are not areas for amateur hour. Just like you wouldn’t attempt brain surgery based on a WebMD article, you shouldn’t gamble with your business or personal well-being by skimping on proper legal counsel when it truly matters. Paying for expert advice upfront, even when it feels costly, is almost always a far smarter investment than dealing with the downstream consequences of inadequate or DIY solutions. Hire the right lawyer, early, and consider it the best form of preventative medicine for your peace of mind and your bottom line.
JJ Maxwell, CEO, Double Finance
Create A Solid Agreement
One piece of legal advice I wish I had known earlier is this: Always have a rock-solid operating agreement, no matter how well you think you know or trust your business partners.
When we started our business, my wife Lauren and I were fortunate to have a clear vision and a strong partnership. But over the years, I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs—including friends—run into trouble because they didn’t define the “what ifs” early on. What happens if a partner wants out? If someone isn’t pulling their weight? If unexpected success (or failure) changes expectations? These conversations might feel awkward when you’re just getting started, but trust me, they’re a whole lot harder when emotions are running high, and money is on the line.
Had I fully understood this from day one, I would have saved myself and others a lot of time and stress. In business, things change—people’s goals shift, circumstances evolve, and what once felt like a perfect partnership might not be down the road. A clear, well-structured agreement forces you to think through different scenarios in advance, protecting everyone involved and keeping things professional if challenges arise.
So my advice? Don’t just rely on a handshake or good intentions. Get it in writing, make sure everyone understands it, and don’t cut corners. It’s not about distrust—it’s about setting up guardrails so that when challenges come (and they will), you have a framework to handle them smoothly.
Ben Davis, CEO, The Gents Place
Understand Foreign Laws
I feel bad that I didn’t know about the rules for foreign software licensing when DataNumen started to grow around the world. Our recovery software was becoming popular all over the world, but I was too naive to think that all markets should follow US norms. When we got a compliance notice from German officials questioning how we handle data, this mistake became painfully clear. We couldn’t get into the European market for a while, and it cost us almost $175,000 to change our licensing agreements to fit the needs of the area.
The complicated legal issues cost us about 14% of our annual revenue that year and caused a big product launch to be pushed back by three months. I learned from this that I should get specific legal advice for every new market before I enter it. By first spending money on proper legal preparation, we’ve been able to avoid big costs and business interruptions while keeping our relationships with trusted foreign clients.
Alan Chen, President & CEO, DataNumen, Inc.
Classify Your Team Properly
Our platform’s growth has been exciting—but there’s one legal lesson I wish I’d learned much earlier:
Properly classify your team members—contractors versus employees—from day one.
Most startups treat this as a formality, but it’s far more significant than filling out the correct paperwork. In the early days of my company, I was eager to move quickly and work with talented people all over the globe. I naively assumed that short-term, project-based tasks automatically meant “contractor,” without digging into labor laws or tax regulations across different regions. Later, I learned the hard way that various jurisdictions have specific criteria—like degree of control, regularity of work, and level of managerial oversight—that can transform a contractor into a de facto employee in the eyes of the law.
Had I known this from the start, I would have tightened contracts, aligned roles more carefully, and maybe even hired a specialist sooner. This would have saved me a lot of headaches—and potential liabilities—in dealing with different employment regulations. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about respect and clarity for your team. People work better when they fully understand their relationship with your company, and you avoid any surprise legal pitfalls down the road.
Derek Pankaew, CEO & Founder, Listening.com
Check Contracts For Missing Terms
A lawyer, who is a friend of mine, once told me that contracts should always be reviewed for what is missing, not just what is written. That advice would have saved me from a frustrating agreement I signed early in my career, where I assumed certain terms were included. Later, I learned the hard way that if something is not explicitly stated, it does not legally exist. This came up when I worked with a vendor who promised ongoing support for a project. I assumed this was part of our agreement, but there was no clear language outlining the length or scope of that support. When an issue came up months later, they refused to assist without additional payment. I had no legal ground to argue because I never made sure those details were included in writing. Since then, I have always double-checked contracts for missing terms. If something is important, it has to be written down in clear language, no matter how obvious it seems.
Linzi Oliver, Commercial Marketing Manager, HorseClicks
Define Partnership Exit Strategies
Structure every partnership with a well-defined exit strategy. This should always be the case, even when things are going well. Early in my career, I worked on high-stakes projects where mutual trust and respect were high.
Since we were young and naive, we assumed that a simple handshake or verbal agreement was enough to keep us together, forever. After all, we were a team of childhood friends and old schoolmates. However, the agreement couldn’t hold water when business dynamics changed due to growth, shifting priorities, and unforeseen challenges.
The unclear terms of engagement led to misaligned expectations, complications, mistrust, and unnecessary legal disputes. Everyone looked out for their own interests, and nobody was interested in saving the business from going under. The gentleman’s agreement we had in place as friends vanished.
Had I known of such scenarios earlier, I would have ensured that the partnership had a written and legally binding agreement in place with clear clauses on equity splits, dissolution terms, decision making and intellectual property ownership right from the start.
The document would have saved time, stress, and legal fees, allowing me to focus more on innovation rather than navigating avoidable partnership conflicts.
Roman Milyushkevich, CEO and CTO, HasData
Have An Up-To-Date Will
As someone working in a death tech company, one piece of legal advice I wish I had known earlier is the importance of having an up-to-date will and advanced healthcare directive. These documents outline your wishes for end-of-life care and the distribution of your assets, ensuring your preferences are respected.
Having these in place would have provided peace of mind, knowing that my affairs were in order and my loved ones wouldn’t be burdened with difficult decisions during an already emotional time. It also would have prevented potential conflicts or legal disputes over my estate.
In this industry, we understand the value of planning ahead and making informed choices about one’s final arrangements. Having the proper legal documents in place is a crucial step in that process.
Mahee Chouhan, Content and Digital Marketing Manager, Mitt Arv
