A prospective business law attorney should always be willing to discuss his or her education and general qualifications in a friendly, open way. There's no need to be pushy, but you should ask, and they should be willing to answer without evasion.

If consulting with your friends and colleagues about a good business law attorney doesn't net you any names (and it should), then fire up the Internet and do a search on lawyers in your area. It's a great way to make a start on your search and gain an appreciation of who's out there.

If your company asks you to sign a non-compete agreement as a condition of working for them, you might want to discreetly consult with an attorney first. Business law differs from state to state, and it's possible that these so-called NCAs are illegal in yours. (Most are in Louisiana, for example.)