I just went through the whole incorporation process for the second time. I used the same guys we used before and they gave us a good deal, agreed to defer the

I just went through the whole incorporation process for the second time. I used the same guys we used before and they gave us a good deal, agreed to defer the fees, etc. The first time around we just asked other startups who they used and what their experience was like. We asked them questions like how much their incorporation docs cost and how fast they responded to emails (lawyers have a bad habit of taking days to respond to emails). If you're planning to raise money, it's also wise to ask your potential investors if they have any favorite firms that they like to work with. Working with firms they know and trust can speed the fund-raising process up a lot. I'm pretty sure I've never had a beer with my lawyers. I know I've never asked them for introductions. I've got a lot of other people around me for that. What's important to me is getting good legal advice when I need it and clean legal docs that aren't going to cause problems later on. I'll take intros from guys who aren't billing me $500/hr.