---
title: "Do I need a lawyer to review my contract?"
canonical: "https://www.joinandwise.com/answers/do-i-need-a-lawyer-to-review-my-contract"
checked: "2026-10-21"
claim: "andwise:answer/do-i-need-a-lawyer-to-review-my-contract@2026-10-21"
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Do I need a lawyer to review my contract?

Get a paid review when the contract carries a cliff clawback, a non-compete beyond your state's limit, tail coverage you pay for, or a compensation formula you cannot recompute. For a standard offer, the free checker plus your state's statute covers the first pass — and tells you which questions are worth paying to have answered.

## The rule

Most contract problems are not hidden in legal language; they are in four numbers: what triggers repayment of the signing bonus, who pays tail when you leave, how far the non-compete reaches, and how hours and call are counted. The checker quotes those clauses with page numbers so a reviewer starts from the actual text.

A paid review earns its fee when the stakes are asymmetric: a clawback larger than the bonus you keep, a covenant that could stop you practicing in your city, or an exit that leaves you buying tail coverage. It also matters when the employer is changing structure — an acquisition or a for-profit buyer can affect PSLF eligibility and assignment of the contract.

Before paying, ask what the review includes: a written redline, a call, negotiation language, and whether the reviewer knows your state's physician non-compete statute. A review that only flags 'risky' clauses without the numbers is a summary, not a negotiation.

## Actions

- Run the free checker on the PDF and read the quoted clauses. — https://www.joinandwise.com/contracts/check
- Read your state's non-compete rule and limits. — https://www.joinandwise.com/contracts/noncompete
- Ask a reviewer for a written redline, not just a risk score. — https://www.joinandwise.com/contracts/guide

## What could change this

- The contract carries none of the four conditions above — the checker plus your state's statute may cover it.
- The employer is being acquired or the contract can be assigned — the review also needs to cover who employs you and whether PSLF eligibility survives.
- A reviewer returns only a risk score with no written redline — that changes what you are buying, not what the clauses say.

## When the numbers aren't enough

- A signing bonus clawback larger than the amount you would keep after tax.
- A non-compete that exceeds your state's statutory limit or covers facilities you never work at.
- Tail coverage that you would pay for, especially in a surgical or obstetric specialty.
- An acquisition, partnership buy-in, or assignment clause that changes who employs you.

## Sources

- [Texas Business & Commerce Code § 15.50](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/BC/htm/BC.15.htm)
- [Pennsylvania Act 74 of 2024](https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2024&sessInd=0&act=74)
- [AMA Code of Medical Ethics: Restrictive Covenants](https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/ethics-opinions/restrictive-covenants)

Checked 2026-10-21. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. The site describes what the law and rules say; it does not say whether a clause is enforceable or what you should do.