Dive Brief:

• Even if a contract appears simple, it can contain provisions that are subject to interpretation or that you simply have not encountered before.
• An attorney can give you a rundown of contract provisions you may want to clarify or negotiate to protect your interests and a summary of what obligations you will incur when you sign – hopefully, but always, what you thought you were signing up for.
• Some law firms will offer a flat fee for contract review.

Dive Insight:

A skeptic might think that having every contract reviewed sounds like a full-employment plan for attorneys, but the potholes you can encounter on the road to a finished building may look and feel a lot bigger in a court or arbitration session than they sounded to you. It's also wise to know if some contracts are going to be interpreted differently by different parties and if the state where you will be working has rules or procedures different from what you're used to.