How do you know if someone is an attorney?
There are a number of ways to find out if someone is an attorney, but the best way is probably to contact the state bar that the person is conducting business and ask them if the person is an attorney. Anyone practicing law must be registered in the state that they are practicing law with the state bar.
What you really want to know is if the attorney practices music, entertainment, intellectual property, new media and/or business law. These are some of the important areas for the music business. Different attorneys will have different strong points. The attorney that may be great for one band, may not be the best for another. Like any relationship it's about having a fantastic match that is mutually beneficial.
Choose your entertainment attorney wisely and know that as the CEO of your own company (corporation or limited liability company), you are always in a position to end your relationship with an attorney and seek out a new one. However, it's best to attempt to select someone that is a great fit for you in beginning and this may difuse having to end any business relationship pre-maturely.
For a list of entertainment attorneys in Atlanta or Los Angeles read the Atlanta Music Industry Connection and Los Angeles Music Industry Connection Books respectively. Now that's Industry Pimping and Motivational Music Business.