please check with your local SBA

There are many types of entity you can register under, based on state's law. Your situation sounds like a 'Partnership', which you can use LLC or S-corp.

There are a lot of information that you need to know before you register this company. That lawyer you mentioned doesn't sound like a good one. You can start with contacting your local chapter of the Small Business Association, who provides a lot of free consulting services for people starting up a small business. They may be able to refer a good lawyer for you. You also need to talk to a CPA for accounting and tax return implications.

If you are a partnership, you'll also need to have a Operating Agreement, which will specify every detail regarding how the two of you will operate the business together. All this detail can be obtained from the lawyer - a good one that is.