Alex is Sprintlaw's co-founder and principal lawyer. Alex previously worked at a top-tier firm as a lawyer specialising in technology and media contracts, and founded a digital agency which he sold in 2015.
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When you’re building a startup or running a small business, legal questions tend to pop up at the worst possible time — like right before you sign a new client, bring on a co-founder, or launch your website.
That’s usually when you find yourself Googling: what’s a solicitor?
In Australia, “solicitor” is a specific kind of lawyer, and understanding what solicitors do (and when you actually need one) can save you time, money and stress. The right legal support can also help you grow with confidence, because you’ll know your contracts, compliance and risk settings aren’t being held together with guesswork.
Below, we’ll break down what a solicitor is, how they’re different to barristers, and the practical ways a solicitor can help Australian startups and small businesses day-to-day.
What’s A Solicitor In Australia (And What Do They Actually Do)?
If you’ve ever wondered what a solicitor is (or what a solicitor does differently to other legal professionals), here’s the simple version.
A solicitor is a qualified legal practitioner who:
- gives legal advice (usually in writing and/or by phone or video conference)
- drafts and reviews contracts and legal documents
- helps you negotiate deals and manage legal risk
- assists with compliance (for example, employment, consumer law, privacy, corporations law)
- may be able to represent you in some courts and tribunals (depending on the matter, the court, and their practising certificate)
- briefs a barrister if your matter needs specialist court advocacy
For business owners, the key point is this: solicitors are typically the legal professionals you deal with most often when you need practical, commercial advice.
That means when you’re setting up your business structure, signing contracts, dealing with staff, or putting your website terms in place, a solicitor is usually the right starting point.
Why Startups And Small Businesses Commonly Work With Solicitors
Most legal issues in small business don’t start with a courtroom. They start with everyday commercial moments, like:
- a customer refusing to pay because your scope wasn’t clear
- a supplier changing their delivery terms mid-project
- a co-founder disagreement about who owns what
- a contractor being treated like an employee (without anyone realising the risk)
- a competitor copying your brand name or website content
A solicitor helps you set things up properly so you’re less likely to end up in a dispute in the first place — and if a dispute does happen, you have a stronger position to resolve it quickly.
Solicitor Vs Barrister: What’s The Difference (And Do You Need Both)?
In Australia, people often talk about the legal profession as split between solicitors and barristers. In practice, the line can vary between states and matters, and some lawyers may do work that overlaps — but the distinction is still useful, especially when an issue becomes more formal or heads towards court.
What Solicitors Usually Do
Solicitors typically manage the legal matter end-to-end, including strategy, paperwork and communications. For a business owner, this is often the most valuable part: a solicitor can translate legal rules into clear commercial options, and then implement the option you choose.
For example, a solicitor can help you:
- review and negotiate a client contract before you sign
- draft terms for your online store or SaaS product
- set up the right structure and governance documents
- respond to a legal letter, complaint or dispute
- work through your options if you need to end a contract
What Barristers Usually Do
Barristers are specialist advocates who typically focus on:
- court appearances and litigation advocacy
- complex legal opinions (particularly where the law is uncertain)
- specialist dispute work and strategy for hearings
If your matter escalates to court (or needs a specialist advocate), your solicitor will usually engage a barrister and manage the process with you. Many small business matters never need a barrister at all, particularly if the goal is early resolution and strong documentation.
So Who Should You Speak To First?
In most business situations, speaking to a solicitor first is the practical move. They can:
- help you understand your legal position and risk
- explain likely outcomes and realistic options
- get the correct documents in place
- brief a barrister if (and only if) it’s needed
When Should A Startup Or Small Business Speak To A Solicitor?
Many founders wait until something goes wrong before getting legal help. That’s understandable — you’re busy building and trying to keep costs under control.
But for most startups and small businesses, the best time to speak with a solicitor is when you’re about to make a decision that’s hard to undo later.
1. When You’re Setting Up Your Business Structure
Your structure affects liability, tax and accounting outcomes, fundraising, decision-making and even how you bring on co-founders or investors. (For tax-specific advice, it’s best to speak with an accountant or registered tax agent, as solicitors generally advise on the legal structure and risk rather than your tax position.)
For example, if you’re launching with a co-founder, you may want to set expectations early around ownership, roles, exits, and how decisions get made. That’s where a Shareholders Agreement can be a practical tool (even when everyone is getting along).
If you’re incorporating, it also matters what internal rules your company runs on. A tailored Company Constitution can help avoid grey areas later — particularly where you have multiple owners, different share classes, or plans to raise capital.
And if you’re not sure whether to operate as a sole trader, partnership or company, it can be worth getting advice before you commit to registrations and contracts. Often, businesses that plan to grow choose to register a company early through a Company Set Up so their legal foundation matches their future plans.
2. Before You Sign (Or Send) A Contract
Contracts aren’t just formalities. They’re risk management tools.
If you’re doing deals based on templates, emails, or handshake agreements, you can accidentally agree to:
- unlimited liability
- payment terms that hurt your cashflow
- delivery obligations you can’t realistically meet
- IP ownership terms that don’t suit your business model
- termination rights that leave you stuck in a bad arrangement
A solicitor can help you spot these issues early and fix them before they become expensive. That’s often the purpose of a Contract Review — so you understand what you’re signing and what to negotiate.
3. When You’re Hiring Staff Or Engaging Contractors
Hiring is exciting, but it’s also where small businesses can accidentally fall into compliance issues.
If you’re bringing on employees, you’ll usually want a clear employment contract, plus aligned workplace policies and processes. This isn’t just about “paperwork” — it’s about setting expectations on pay, duties, IP, confidentiality, leave, and termination.
Many business owners start with an Employment Contract so you have a solid baseline for the relationship from day one.
If you’re engaging contractors, the risks are different (including whether the arrangement is truly contractor-based or looks more like employment). A solicitor can help you structure the engagement to match how the work will happen in real life.
4. When You’re Collecting Customer Data Or Operating Online
Even a simple website can trigger legal obligations, especially if you collect personal information through:
- contact forms
- email lists
- online bookings
- accounts and logins
- cookies and analytics tools
In many cases, you’ll need a Privacy Policy that clearly explains what you collect, how you use it, and who you disclose it to.
This is also where a solicitor can help you align your marketing and customer experience with your compliance obligations, so you don’t accidentally create misleading promises or privacy issues as you scale.
5. When You’re Protecting Your Brand And Intellectual Property
For startups, your brand is often one of your most valuable assets — especially if you’re building goodwill, growing a customer base, or raising funds.
A solicitor can help you understand what you can protect (and how), including brand names, logos, slogans, and sometimes product designs. Registering early is often a smart move, particularly if you’re investing in marketing.
Many businesses choose to register your trade mark to help stop others using a similar name in the same or closely related space.
What Can A Solicitor Help Your Business With Day-To-Day?
When people think of legal help, they often picture disputes. But the real day-to-day value of a solicitor for a small business is usually proactive and commercial.
Here are some of the most common ways solicitors support startups and SMEs in Australia.
Contracts That Match How You Actually Operate
A contract is only useful if it reflects your real business process.
For example, if you offer staged deliverables, subscriptions, milestones, or ongoing support, your contract should clearly address:
- scope of work and change requests
- timeframes and delays
- payment terms (including late fees if appropriate)
- what happens if the customer wants to cancel
- warranties, liability limits, and dispute resolution
This is where a solicitor can turn vague agreements into clear, enforceable terms that support your cashflow and reduce misunderstandings.
Negotiations And Deal Support
As a business owner, you’re often negotiating — even if it doesn’t feel like it.
Whether it’s a supplier agreement, enterprise client, commercial lease, or partnership deal, a solicitor can help you understand:
- which clauses are market standard and which are red flags
- what you can reasonably push back on
- what risks are acceptable for your stage of business
- how to document the agreement properly
This is particularly useful when the other side has a contract drafted heavily in their favour (which is common).
Founders, Shares And Ownership Issues
Ownership issues can become stressful quickly, especially if expectations aren’t aligned early.
A solicitor can help you manage things like:
- equity splits and vesting concepts (where relevant)
- director responsibilities
- decision-making rules
- what happens if someone wants to exit
- protecting IP created by founders and contractors
For many startups, this is the difference between having a scalable structure that investors can understand, and having informal arrangements that become hard to unwind later.
Risk Management And Disputes Before They Escalate
If a customer refuses to pay, a contractor relationship breaks down, or a partner doesn’t deliver, a solicitor can help you respond strategically and professionally.
This might involve:
- reviewing your rights under the contract
- drafting a clear demand letter
- negotiating a settlement outcome
- helping you decide if formal action is worth it
The goal is usually to resolve the matter quickly and commercially, while protecting your legal position.
What Should You Look For When Choosing A Solicitor For Your Business?
Not all solicitors work the same way, and as a small business, you want support that fits how you operate: fast-moving, practical, and cost-aware.
Here are some helpful factors to consider when choosing a solicitor.
1. They Understand Small Business Reality
You want someone who understands that legal work has to support your commercial goals — not slow them down.
A good business solicitor should be able to explain:
- what’s legally required vs what’s “nice to have”
- the risk level of different options
- the practical steps you can take next
2. They Communicate Clearly (No Jargon For The Sake Of It)
Legal terms matter, but you shouldn’t need a law degree to understand your own documents.
When you speak to a solicitor, you should come away knowing:
- what the issue is
- what your options are
- what the solicitor recommends (and why)
3. They Focus On Prevention As Much As Fixing Problems
For startups and SMEs, prevention is often where you get the best return on legal spend.
That means putting the right contracts, IP protection, and compliance settings in place early — so you can focus on growth instead of damage control.
4. They Can Support You Across Multiple Areas As You Grow
Early on, you might need help with setup and customer terms. Later, it might be staffing, investment, or disputes.
It’s often helpful to work with a team that can support you across business law areas as your needs change. If you’re looking for support in areas like contracts, IP, employment and compliance, working with an Employment Lawyer (and related business-focused solicitors) can help you manage growth more smoothly when you start hiring.
5. They Protect Your Confidential Information
If you’re sharing your product roadmap, pricing models, customer lists, or technical details, confidentiality matters.
In many situations, an Non-Disclosure Agreement can be a practical tool to help protect sensitive information when speaking with contractors, collaborators, or potential investors.
Key Takeaways
- A solicitor is usually the main legal professional startups and small businesses work with for advice, contracts, compliance, and managing risk.
- Solicitors and barristers are different: solicitors typically manage your matter and documents, and can brief a barrister if your issue needs specialist court advocacy.
- It’s often worth speaking to a solicitor before key “point of no return” moments, like signing contracts, hiring staff, launching online, or bringing on co-founders.
- Strong legal foundations (business structure, well-drafted contracts, IP protection, privacy compliance) help you prevent disputes rather than just reacting to them.
- When choosing a solicitor, look for clear communication, practical commercial advice, and experience supporting businesses like yours.
If you’d like help choosing the right legal setup or getting your contracts and policies in place, you can reach us at 1800 730 617 or team@sprintlaw.com.au for a free, no-obligations chat.
