how much detail to tell your lawyer
 

If you promote affiliate programs that promote adult websites, do you think you should tell your tax/corporate lawyer this or is it enough to leave it at 'we promote affiliate programs online'. I see it as a kind of way to be discrete since we don't actually run any paysites just marketing fronts to adult sponsors.

I personally think it would be good to tell the lawyer, I don't know if you need to tho!

jDoG

There are some sponsors who put the name of their program onto the check or stub you get....so, don't you think your tax person will figure it out?

Hook them up with some sample content

If you can't tell your lawyer everything, you have the wrong lawyer. They need to know this stuff.

My lawyer knows what color boxers I wear.

i'm with twistyneck here... if your lawyer isn't comfortable with what you do, he or she won't give you the best representation when you need them. why not find out now when nothing is counting on it?

i have a friend whose lawyer told him porn was illegal two years ago. it's good to know if your lawyer is totally uninformed or perhaps a heavy christian.

Leave it at that you dont need to tell them anymore

dito

true, :thumbsup

I don't know if it really matters at the tax level... but, did you know...

...if, even your attorney in trial hears you purjor yourself, he is legally obligated to point this out to the court?

Doesn't that just defeats the purpose of having a "mainstream-sounding" company name?

I wouldn't say you have to, but I think it's quite useful. For example, if you explain what sorts of legal issues may arise, an attorney may be better able to structure your corporation to limit your liability. If you're uncomfortable with divulging the exact nature of your business, you could say that among your affiliate programs, some involve sales of adult-oriented subscription services.

Your lawyer is the one person that could potentially keep you out of jail in a pinch. You tell him EVERYTHING.

Do you have a free speech lawyer and a financial lawyer?

If you don't already have a lawyer that specialized in free speech issues, you might want to consider getting one.

Your lawyer should be the person you can tell EVERYTHING. If he/she's not comfortable working and advising you about adult issues, then they shouldn't be your lawyer. :2 cents:

Bullshit.

Sure does....and I won't name the sponsor, but it raises the eyebrows of my bank tellers when they process the check and the name of the program is right there...clearly adult sounding...sigh.

i give mine passes

Very useful discussion. We are going to get some advise from a lawyer and I was wondering the same question: How honest should we be? If we are going to get the best advice, I think it is best to lay it all out on the table.

My lawyer is glad, he knows he's getting paid

All this lawyer does is set up the company and draft papers and then deposit the checks and do the taxes. I don't see how getting into all the details before matters because as someone mentioned, when they do the taxes they can see where you spend the cash. I'm sort of comfortable at leaving it with 'affiliate programs'....If they have a problem at that point they can tell me, otherwise I just say that I didn't think it was an issue...

I'd suggest you be able and willing to tell your attorney everything except a crime you intend to commit before you commit it.

If not, get a new lawyer.

good point hehe :thumbsup

Lawyer - What lawyer?