When selecting a professional lobbyist for your organization, it’s vital to find a lobbyist that is a good fit for your needs, budget and style. Hopefully, this is a relationship that will benefit you for years to come, so making the right decision is critical. Keep in mind when searching for professional legislative representation, make sure they are…
- Experienced: Does the individual or lobbying firm have experience working with issues in your industry? Is the lobbyist familiar with your industry’s regulatory and legislative issues? Do they know the regulations impacting your industry? Do they have actual experience working IN the government? Ask about their background in your field.
Connected: Does the prospective lobbyist have good and ongoing relationships with legislators and regulators, both state and federal? Do they use the latest technology to stay informed of changes in government and keep you informed of the latest developments? Is the lobbyist willing to work with other organizations, lobbyists to form coalitions to promote similar issues?
- Reputable: Are they ethical lobbyists? What do other people you respect think of this lobbyist? Ask for references that can be checked.
- Agile: Does the prospective lobbyist have the ability to react and adapt legislative strategies as agencies release regulations or elections change the game players or are they bogged down in their own bureaucracy? Do they need meetings to discuss the next meeting?
- Focused: Do they have clients that may have conflicting interest from yours? How does the lobbyist handle that?
- Successful: Does the lobbying firm have a proven track record of getting results? Do they get results for their clients?
- Size of Lobbying Firm: You don’t necessarily need to hire the biggest firm on the block, but do make sure that whoever you hire has the resources at his or her disposal to get the job done.
- Size of a lobbying agency will also dictate pricing to some degree. The larger the lobbying firm, the more expensive they are likely to be, meaning a good deal of your lobbying budget will go into labor overhead.
- Size will also indicate how important you are to their bottom line. If your lobbying fees are just a drop in the bucket to their overall billing, larger clients will take precedence over your needs.
- Cooperative: Probably the most critical aspect of choosing a lobbyist is the comfort level your organization feels with the firm and principal lobbyist.. The most effective lobbyists work side-by-side with their clients. You will want to seek out a representative that welcomes client input and involvement and always includes you in critical decisions.

Latest posts by Tim Cansler (see all)
- Is Your Government Relations Team #SmartWorking? - April 14, 2020
- President Trump Challenges to Use Better Infrastructure Techniques - April 6, 2020
- COVID-19: U.S. Stimulus Package #3 - April 1, 2020