When Do I Need to Call My Lawyer?

You don’t need a lawyer for everything. But there are moments when skipping legal advice can cost you equity, delay funding, or expose you to serious risk. Here’s a quick-reference guide for when to pick up the phone (or shoot over a contract). Save this. Share it. Pin it up.

Call your lawyer when:

You’re Structuring or Changing the Company

• Incorporating or converting to a Delaware C-Corp

• Issuing founder equity or modifying cap table

• Setting up vesting schedules and 83(b) election guidance

• Amending your Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws

You’re Fundraising

• Drafting or reviewing SAFE agreements or convertible notes

• Negotiating valuation caps or discounts

• Accepting investment from friends, angels, or accelerators

• Modeling dilution and understanding your cap table impact

You’re Bringing on People

• Hiring employees or contractors (first or fiftieth)

• Offering equity compensation (RSAs, stock options, advisor shares)

• Onboarding advisors or consultants with equity promises

• Creating or updating offer letters, IP assignment, or CIIA agreements

You’re Launching a Product

• Creating or updating Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

• Collecting user data, even if it’s just emails or usage metrics

• Working with third-party tools (Stripe, Firebase, Google Analytics)

A Founder is Leaving or Joining

• Adjusting ownership, vesting, or repurchasing shares

• Handling voluntary or involuntary founder departures

• Updating stockholder or operating agreements

You’re Signing Anything with Long-Term Impact

• Reviewing investor documents or side letters

• Signing accelerator or grant agreements

• Entering a commercial contract with a customer or partner

You’re Not Sure and ChatGPT’s Not Helping

• You’ve hit an unfamiliar situation and need context

• You’ve found templates online but don’t know what they actually mean

• You want to prevent problems, not just solve them later