Should I bring in a contract lawyer before or after signing?

Direct Answer: Before signing whenever possible — once you’ve signed, your options are largely limited to whatever terms are already on the page.

Before, whenever possible. Once you’ve signed, your options are largely limited to the terms already on the page — a contract lawyer reviewing the document beforehand can catch a one-sided indemnity clause, a vague termination provision, or a missing dispute-resolution term while there’s still room to negotiate. Review after signing still has value, since it tells you exactly where you stand and what your options are if something goes wrong, but it’s a much narrower conversation than a pre-signature review. As a general rule: the more money, time, or risk tied to an agreement, the stronger the case for having a contract lawyer look at it before you sign, not after a problem shows up.

What a contract lawyer checks before you sign:

• Payment terms, amounts, and deadlines.
• Termination and exit clauses — how either side can walk away.
• Indemnification and liability provisions.
• Dispute-resolution language — mediation, arbitration, or venue requirements.
• Ambiguous or one-sided terms that favor the other party.