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We all know that the Internet contains a wealth of helpful information. But there’s so out there, how do we know the best places to look?

I have some recommendations for Web sites that you may find useful. Check them out and – if you agree that some of these sites are worth visiting – bookmark them for future use.

FINDING A LAWYER

The best way to find a lawyer is still through word of mouth. You ask business associates, accountants, and bankers about the lawyers they’ve used, and how they rate these people.

But word of mouth doesn’t always work. Or maybe you’d like to learn more about a recommended lawyer before interviewing him or her. There are several excellent Web sites that can aid you in your search. And, as a bonus, these sites also include informative discussions of business law and other legal issues.

www.lawyers.com. You can use this site to find lawyers in your city that handle matters in specific legal areas. Examples include business law, labor and employment law, real estate law, and consumer law. You can compare the education and experience of several lawyers before you pick up the phone or contact them through email.

www.martindale.com. This Web site is operated by the same folks who run lawyers.com, but it is aimed primarily at lawyers who are looking to refer matters to other lawyers. So why should a non-lawyer visit this site? For an extraordinary feature called Peer Review Ratings. These ratings let you know how a particular lawyer is regarded by other lawyers in the community. Lawyers are rated AV, BV or CV – with AV, of course, being the highest rating. The V part means the lawyer has very high standards of conduct and ethics. But a lawyer isn’t rated at all unless he or she meets those standards. Caution: Don’t assume that there’s something wrong a lawyer who isn’t rated; some lawyers ask that their rating not be posted, and there may be other reasons for the absence of a rating.

www.findlaw.com. The FindLaw Web site is organized a bit differently than the two sites mentioned earlier, but it also offers a way to locate legal talent in your city. On the opening page, there’s a link to a section of site called Learn About the Law. Go there and click on Small Business. You’ll be amazed by the breadth and depth of the information you find there.

www.nolo.com. Nolo, the foremost publisher of legal books and software for non-lawyers, has recently expanded its Web site to help you find a lawyer. Unlike the other find-a-lawyer sites, fewer lawyers are listed and not all cities are covered. But the profiles submitted by the lawyers are extensive, and give you a handle on a lawyer’s personality and style – valuable information to have. And legal articles are well-researched and ably written.

UNDERSTANDING FEDERAL LAWS

Every business, from the smallest to the largest, is affected by federal laws. Fortunately, the key governmental agencies have excellent Web sites that make tons of material easily accessible on your computer. And contrary to what you might expect, the content is in plain English.

www.irs.gov. This is a convenient place to learn about tax regulations, print forms, and download IRS publications. IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, is a good starting point. Other publications deal in depth with special issues such as depreciation.

www.dol.gov. This Department of Labor site is the go-to place if you have employees – or expect to have them in the future. You’ll find publications and compliance sheets dealing with the fine points of wages and overtime pay. You can also learn about required workplace posters, and download those that the federal government mandates.