How timely this question is! I've just been engaged by a client who is having trouble getting paid. The client provided consulting services to a company. In addition to the Rocket Lawyer contract being generally insufficient and vague, it does not at all address the circumstances of this client. I have had this sort of challenge come up with other so-called "legal services" providers, where there is a template of some sort that has been used. Templates by their nature are general and do not address the specific concerns of each individual client.

I have had to help people with issues ranging from their LLC continuing on beyond their death so that their surviving heirs would inherit the business along with all of its liabilities to people believing that their entity was created in such a way that it could use alternative names (the "fill in the form" information indicated that more than one name could be used) such that they had to find 50 people with whom they had contracted in order to rectify the problem.

I cannot suggest strongly enough that these services may seem like a great way to save costs but in reality, they often provide insufficient protection, greater risk and potentially very costly results.

It is my goal that people who need legal counsel seek legal counsel. I know that people are concerned about the cost. But if you needed heart surgery, you wouldn't look for the cheapest generic solution. Neither should you with the heart of your business. Most attorneys who work with small and middle market businesses love to help them succeed. Having one of us in your corner - no matter what - is worth the little extra cost it may be, and the risks or potential additional costs it will avoid.

Many of us also provide a free consultation so that you will know - before you engage us - what we're like, if we can meet your needs, and what kind of people we are. We also get to know what you are like, what your expectations, budget and concerns may be. You simply can't get that kind of personalization from a generic form.

And, if you plan to stay in business for awhile, having a counselor as well as someone who documents your legal agreements can prove invaluable in circumstances you could not anticipate. It's our job to anticipate for you!

I am an Elder Law Attorney who can say categorically that Rocket Lawyer does NOT address the problems that families face when they plan for disability. The probate code and Medicaid regulations are so complex that I have to clear up the misconceptions daily. As for estate planning, the forms on these sites are generic and not tailored to your needs. They do not ask the right questions, nor can they make the correct changes based upon your situation. In addition, if the form does not cover your situation, your family could end up in my office paying more money to try and correct the mistakes. Just as in many other areas of law, you can pay a professional now or pay them later.

The issue is that people are not cookies. What I mean by that is true legal representation is not cookie cutter..effective representation is tailored to each particular case... including documents.. if you don't want to be treated like everyone else then you should avoid things that don't consider how different each and ever person and each and every case is. Case outcome should often turn on how the law impacts particular facts...I can't overstate the importance of having you own personal adcoca

People pay their plumbers, their car mechanics, and of course their doctors whatever fee is demanded of them in order to achieve their objective. But somehow, for their businesses, their homes and their estate plans - the three most important investments of their lives - many people think that the quick and dirty online approach is adequate. G

They might be lucky and it might be adequate. But to me it is a no-brainer to have a genuine working relationship with a competent local attorney with whom you can consult and work and interact in the flesh. But in the interest of full disclosure, I am an experienced local business, real estate and estate planning attorney in the Westchester County suburbs of New York City.

Not at all likely would I recommend Rocket Lawyer, but I'll address only my area of law, which is estate planning and elder law (with focus on the latter). The value I bring to my clients is my ability to patiently listen to their concerns and their goals. Rocket Lawyer can't/won't do that. I spend whatever time is necessary (always included within my flat rate) to make sure the plan I prepare for my clients will meet their concerns and their goals, and that they fully understand the plan. Rocket Lawyer can't/won't do that. I go the extra mile (also included in my flat rate) to make sure that my clients' plans are properly implemented. Rocket Lawyer, again, can't/won't do that. More than once, clients come to me after trying the Rocket Lawyer, LegalZoom and similar DIY options, only to learn that the expense to fix what they did at their advice is greater than had they hired me in the first place. While I appreciate California's great interest in assisting the public in making certain legal tasks more available and economical, I see more the harm it creates.