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Launching a Software as a Service (SaaS) business can be tricky. Keeping all your documents in order is critical. But there’s one big problem. Internet law is very complicated. If you leave any grey areas, they can be exploited. That’s why SaaS agreements can go for hundreds of pages. They need to go over every possible way the software can be used and clearly outline your company’s guidelines. Because of this, it pays to use a specialized SaaS law firm.
While there are dozens of specialized SaaS law firms to choose from, they aren’t all created equally. If you want to find the best one for your startup you’ll need to be prepared to ask the hard questions. Let’s run through some of the things you’ll need to clarify.
What Are Your Credentials?
As we mentioned, SaaS law can quickly become complex. You need to make sure that your lawyer can keep up. Just having a legal degree isn’t going to be good enough. They should have a list of achievements within your niche. It’s also important to drill down into the roles that they typically perform. You want someone who has experience with drafting legal contracts.
What Experience Do You Have?
Experience is key within the world of SaaS. Your lawyer should have a list of other clients they’ve worked with. Strong experience means that they know what to expect when working on your case. This will ensure that you don’t need to worry about your legal team making rookie mistakes.
Do You Have Good Communication Skills?
SaaS law is known for its complexity. You need a lawyer who can explain these difficult concepts. Without this skill, your entire company will suffer. Picture this scenario, a customer calls your customer service team. They are irate at a decision you’ve made. They swear that it violates their legal rights. The customer service team contacts the SaaS law firm for help. But all they get back is a bunch of legalese they don’t understand. It will be impossible for them to calm the customer down.
What Is Your Jurisdiction?
You need to understand the limits of your lawyer’s prowess. Some only practice SaaS law within a single state. Larger firms have jurisdiction across the entire country. If you want to go international, you’ll need to hire multiple SaaS law firms. You’ll need at least one for every country you are operating in.
How Large Is Your Firm?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It all comes down to what you are looking for. Smaller firms can provide a more personal touch. They take the time to get to know you and understand the intricacies of your company.
However, bigger firms can better handle a big workload. Plus, they tend to be better equipped to defend your company in court.
At the end of the day, the size of the firm isn’t that important. The key is to make sure that they can keep up with the demands of your organization. If they don’t have enough resources, things can fall through the cracks. Importantly, they shouldn’t be afraid of going to court, if needed.
Are You Proactive?
Once you’ve released your software, the difficult part begins. You need to constantly monitor how it is being used. Customers will try to get away with violating the terms. If you’re successful other companies will try to copy you.
That’s why a proactive lawyer is key. They need to be constantly looking out for your interests. This lets you get on top of issues straight away. Often, the longer the problem goes on, the more expensive it becomes to address.
How Much Will I Need To Pay?
You can’t judge the quality of a SaaS law firm based solely on its prices. But it is important to make sure that you can afford to pay for their services. More importantly, though, you want a firm that has clear prices. Hidden fees are a major red flag. Not only will you end up paying more, it also shows that the law firm isn’t trustworthy.
What Do Your Customers Say?
This is the most important question of all. You need a SaaS law firm with a good reputation. Prospective attorneys should be able to list satisfied customers. But don’t just take their word for it. Do your own research. Look for online reviews. Keep an eye out for any red flags, like customers who said that it was hard to get in contact with their attorney. Another common warning sign is financial disputes, particularly if customers say they are being charged hidden fees.
Conclusion
Creating a successful SaaS business requires more than just a good software package. You also require a good lawyer. Without someone to write strong user agreements, you’ll quickly run into legal troubles. Using these questions, you can weed out bad attorneys. Then, you can pick the firm that best fits with your company.