Fourth post in the series, New York Employees: What Your Employer Knows and You Should Learn Now

So You Want To Be An Independent Consultant.  Some people prefer to work for themselves.  When a company hires you as a consultant, it may ask you to sign a consulting agreement.  Read it carefully.  It may have indemnification clauses that put you at serious financial risk if anything goes wrong.  It may also restrict who else you can work for at the same time or in the future.  The wrong restrictions could take a serious bite out of your business or expose you to significant damages if you ignore them.  Watch for clauses that govern who owns the copyright in your work.  If any of these or other warning signs appear, consult an employment lawyer before you sign.