In the course of starting and running a company in Houston, Texas, an entrepreneur may encounter dozens of legal issues that require at least a rudimentary familiarity with business law. Filing forms and applications, getting an employer identification number and ensuring that buildings are compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are just a few examples of instances where it might be necessary to find legal information before proceeding.
According to the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, sometimes it is important to seek legal advice from an attorney. Contracts with shareholders, vendors, employees and clients are legal documents, so it is essential for them to be correct to prevent litigation in the future. While anyone has the right to self-representation, only an attorney can represent another person.
The Texas Judicial Branch explains that legal advice can only be provided by an attorney. Differentiating between legal information and advice may help a business owner to determine whether he or she should speak to an attorney.
Information may include court rules and procedures, federal and state statutes, definitions and other issues related to functions of the judicial system. These are often found in libraries or on government websites and other online sources. On the other hand, legal advice provides an interpretation of the law as it applies to a particular case.