Many businesses choose to hire lawyers only when a problem arises. A contract dispute, a labor issue, an inspection, or a penalty notice triggers the decision to “call a lawyer.” On the surface, this approach seems cost-effective and practical.
However, in reality, hiring lawyers only on a case-by-case basis often creates more legal risk than it solves. By the time a lawyer becomes involved, key decisions have already been made, documents have already been signed, and procedures have already been followed—sometimes incorrectly.
This article explains why relying on ad-hoc legal services exposes businesses to hidden risks, how this model fails in daily operations, and why ongoing legal consultancy is increasingly the safer choice for companies operating in Vietnam.
The most fundamental weakness of hiring lawyers only when issues arise is that it is reactive by nature.
In a case-by-case model:
Lawyers are involved after decisions are made
Contracts are reviewed only after disputes emerge
Compliance issues are addressed only after inspections begin
At this stage, legal advice focuses on damage control rather than prevention. Many risks cannot be undone once they are embedded in contracts, procedures, or internal policies.
When lawyers are engaged only for specific cases, they:
Lack background knowledge of the business
Do not understand internal processes or risk appetite
See only fragments of the legal picture
This makes it difficult to assess risk holistically. Legal advice becomes narrow and case-specific, rather than strategic and preventive.
Businesses often assume that “a good lawyer can fix anything.” In reality, many legal problems cannot be fixed after the fact.
One of the most common consequences of ad-hoc legal support is weak contract management.
Typical scenarios include:
Contracts signed without legal review to save time
Templates reused across deals without updates
Lawyers consulted only after disputes arise
When disputes occur, lawyers are forced to work with contracts that:
Contain ambiguous or unfavorable clauses
Lack clear liability or termination provisions
Do not reflect actual business practices
At that point, the business’s legal position is already compromised.
When businesses hire different lawyers for different matters, legal advice often becomes inconsistent.
This leads to:
Conflicting contract structures
Different interpretations of compliance requirements
Inconsistent handling of similar issues
Over time, inconsistency weakens the company’s overall legal position and increases uncertainty for management and staff.
Case-by-case legal services focus on visible problems, not ongoing compliance.
As a result:
Legal updates are missed
Internal practices drift away from the law
Licensing and reporting obligations are overlooked
Many administrative penalties arise not from deliberate violations, but from compliance gaps that no one was monitoring continuously.
Labor law is one of the most heavily enforced areas in Vietnam. Yet many businesses consult lawyers only when:
A labor dispute escalates
An employee files a complaint
Authorities announce an inspection
By then, termination procedures, overtime arrangements, or internal policies may already violate the law. Lawyers can explain the risk, but they cannot rewrite history.
Some businesses believe that calling lawyers less often means they are managing legal risk well. In fact, the opposite is often true.
Fewer lawyer interactions usually mean:
Decisions are made without legal input
Risks are not identified early
Problems remain hidden until enforcement occurs
Legal risk does not disappear just because lawyers are not involved—it simply goes unnoticed.
Case-by-case legal services often result in:
Urgent legal fees
Higher costs during disputes or inspections
Management time diverted to crisis handling
In contrast, ongoing legal consultancy spreads legal support over time, reducing the need for emergency interventions and lowering total legal cost in the long run.
Many companies lose disputes or face penalties and say:
“We didn’t know this was illegal.”
“We thought this was standard practice.”
“Our lawyer never warned us.”
In most cases, the issue is not lawyer quality, but timing. Lawyers were consulted too late—after risks had already materialized.
With ongoing legal consultancy, lawyers are involved before risks arise, not after.
Instead of solving isolated problems, ongoing legal advisors:
Review contracts before signing
Monitor compliance continuously
Advise HR and management proactively
Track legal changes affecting operations
Prepare businesses for inspections in advance
Legal support becomes part of daily operations rather than a last-minute fix.
Ongoing legal consultancy provides:
Consistent legal interpretation across the business
Standardized contract structures
Unified compliance approach
Clear legal guidance for management
This consistency strengthens the company’s overall legal position and reduces uncertainty in decision-making.
Foreign-invested enterprises face higher risk when relying on case-by-case legal services because:
Local law differs from global standards
Legal advice from overseas counsel may not reflect Vietnamese practice
Compliance obligations are complex and ongoing
Without continuous local legal oversight, FDI companies are more likely to commit unintentional violations.
Case-by-case legal services may work for:
One-off transactions
Rare, isolated legal issues
They are not suitable for:
Daily business operations
Ongoing compliance management
HR and labor law oversight
Businesses operating in regulated environments
For these, ongoing legal support is far more effective.
Businesses that switch from ad-hoc legal services to ongoing legal consultancy typically experience:
Fewer disputes and penalties
Better contract enforceability
Stronger compliance culture
Greater confidence during inspections
More informed management decisions
Legal risk is managed systematically rather than incident by incident.
DEDICA provides ongoing legal consultancy services designed to act as an outsourced legal department for businesses operating in Vietnam.
DEDICA supports clients by:
Reviewing contracts before they become disputes
Advising on labor, licensing, and compliance matters
Monitoring legal changes affecting operations
Supporting inspections and authority interactions
Identifying legal risks early
DEDICA’s approach is preventive, consistent, and business-oriented, helping companies avoid the hidden risks of case-by-case legal support.
Hiring lawyers only when problems arise may seem efficient, but it often exposes businesses to greater legal risk. By the time legal advice is sought, many risks are already embedded and irreversible.
Legal risk management is not about responding faster—it is about acting earlier.
By choosing ongoing legal consultancy instead of case-by-case legal services, businesses move from reactive problem-solving to proactive risk control—protecting operations, management, and long-term growth.
📞 Hotline: (+84) 39 969 0012 (Available via WhatsApp, WeChat, Zalo)
🕒 Working Hours: Monday – Friday (8:30 – 18:00)
Contact us today for a free initial consultation with our experienced lawyers!
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