Lawdingo Makes It Easy To Find And Instantly Consult A Lawyer Online(techcrunch.com)
techcrunch.com
Lawdingo Makes It Easy To Find And Instantly Consult A Lawyer Online
http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/09/lawdingo-makes-it-easy-to-find-and-instantly-consult-a-lawyer-online/
7 comments
I'm looking for any and all feedback. Thanks guys! nikhil, founder - [email protected]
205 attorneys * $92/mo = ~$19k/mo. Not bad.
Why focus just on attorneys? Why not make it more generic for any type of consulting that would fit this type of model? Accounting/CPA/Taxes seems like the next fit.
Why focus just on attorneys? Why not make it more generic for any type of consulting that would fit this type of model? Accounting/CPA/Taxes seems like the next fit.
Stay tuned for that. I think vertically-oriented sites make more sense than a generic platform. Also to note, not all lawyers are paying.
How do you plan on competing with Avvo, RocketLawyer, and LegalZoom (all of them also offer attorney referral services)? Or are you planning on not competing with them and serving more of a niche market?
I think focussing specifically on facilitating the initial consultation means the product can create a better experience for people looking for legal advice - scheduling, video chat, free consultations, and a bunch of other little details. We'll leave the DIY document creation to others.
Are you or do you plan to be certified by the CA State Bar as a lawyer referral service?
http://rules.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=mKEKxX4... [pdf]
Note that a lawyer referral service is defined as: "'Lawyer Referral Service' means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or any other entity, or a service or agency of an entity, which operates for the direct or indirect purpose of referring potential clients to lawyers, whether or not the term 'referral service' is used."
I imagine other states have similar licensing requirements.
http://rules.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=mKEKxX4... [pdf]
Note that a lawyer referral service is defined as: "'Lawyer Referral Service' means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or any other entity, or a service or agency of an entity, which operates for the direct or indirect purpose of referring potential clients to lawyers, whether or not the term 'referral service' is used."
I imagine other states have similar licensing requirements.
My understanding is that the company does not need to register as a referral service, in the same way that Yelp or the Yellow Pages are also not referral services. We're making a point not to recommend any particular lawyers so as not to qualify as the type of service we would need to register for.
It will be interesting to see more ZocDoc-like industry verticals take off.
I was just telling my doctor this morning how ZocDoc has made me substantially more likely to book an appointment because I can do it without a phone, and using an interface that was well designed (instead of what hospitals themselves would probably come up with).
A dingo ate my lawyer?
Good stuff Nikhil!
'It depends.' Now online.
How do you find a lawyer?
Go to your nearest Starbucks and ask for any of the baristas.
In this economy, that's not even a joke... (http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_school_by_the_num...).
In this economy, that's not even a joke... (http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_school_by_the_num...).
I know your comment was facetious, but having completed law school and being a lawyer are not the same thing.
If the barista at Starbucks tried to give you legal advice they would likely be breaking the law themselves.
If the barista at Starbucks tried to give you legal advice they would likely be breaking the law themselves.
Which makes this particular idea even better.