Comments on: Online lawyers, where art thou? http://bigbrightbulb.com/2008/02/online-lawyers-where-art-thou/ Ideas & tools for tiny businesses with tinier budgets Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:30:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jon-Paul McTavy http://bigbrightbulb.com/2008/02/online-lawyers-where-art-thou/#comment-6772 Jon-Paul McTavy Tue, 12 May 2009 12:54:56 +0000 http://bigbrightbulb.com/build-a-team/online-lawyers-where-art-thou#comment-6772 I do know that small businesses regularly struggle with the costs of legal services, and often a problem that could use a lawyer is simply not worth the expense, considering the dollar value of the problem. There are websites out there trying to solve this problem, but perhpaps the best thing a small business can do is preventive medicine, including credit checks on potential clients and a good client contract I do know that small businesses regularly struggle with the costs of legal services, and often a problem that could use a lawyer is simply not worth the expense, considering the dollar value of the problem.
There are websites out there trying to solve this problem, but perhpaps the best thing a small business can do is preventive medicine, including credit checks on potential clients and a good client contract

]]> By: Jon-Paul McTavy http://bigbrightbulb.com/2008/02/online-lawyers-where-art-thou/#comment-5778 Jon-Paul McTavy Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:22:40 +0000 http://bigbrightbulb.com/build-a-team/online-lawyers-where-art-thou#comment-5778 I am seeing this so frequently in business. I get business cards like this all the time. But, in order to be good in business, you HAVE to be an effective marketer. And, part of doing that is getting your name out there to the public. I am seeing this so frequently in business. I get business cards like this all the time. But, in order to be good in business, you HAVE to be an effective marketer. And, part of doing that is getting your name out there to the public.

]]> By: N Silva http://bigbrightbulb.com/2008/02/online-lawyers-where-art-thou/#comment-1587 N Silva Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:19:03 +0000 http://bigbrightbulb.com/build-a-team/online-lawyers-where-art-thou#comment-1587 Although MyCounsel was a very good tool, and a great idea I have to admit, the flat fee was no “real”, I guess that is way a lot of professionals explored other options to get clients online and left MyCounsel. Although MyCounsel was a very good tool, and a great idea I have to admit, the flat fee was no “real”, I guess that is way a lot of professionals explored other options to get clients online and left MyCounsel.

]]> By: David Leffler http://bigbrightbulb.com/2008/02/online-lawyers-where-art-thou/#comment-1545 David Leffler Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:35:54 +0000 http://bigbrightbulb.com/build-a-team/online-lawyers-where-art-thou#comment-1545 Hi! I just discovered your blog and it's great. As a lawyer I represent a number of small businesses and I frequently find myself recommending web tools to assist them in operating their businesses, and your blog is certainly a good source for this. I was unfamiliar with mycounsel.com, but I can guess as to one of the reasons that they are no longer in business. Any lawyer handling a collection matter for $125 is probably not going to be in business very long. Considering that your lawyer had to review the "glut of contracts, invoices, phone logs and reminder notices" and then prepare a letter (and let's assume it was a form letter), your talking about at least two hours of your lawyer's time. This doesn't include administrative time involved with setting you up as a client, and some exchange of emails and/or phone conversations with you regarding your matter. It also does not include an allocable portion of time that the lawyer spent reviewing the mycounsel.com opportunity, setting up an account there, and maintenance (payment for the service (perhaps auto pay, but still some time setting that up), responding to inquiries that go nowhere, etc.). So, after including all of that, I'd say that the lawyer might be making $40 an hour or less, which is typically not a living wage for an attorney, given that you have to figure in the cost of the lawyer's business overhaed before determining a profit, and not every hour spent by a lawyer during the work day is billable time (believe me, I know). Having said that, I do know that small businesses regularly struggle with the costs of legal services, and often a problem that could use a lawyer is simply not worth the expense, considering the dollar value of the problem. There are websites out there trying to solve this problem, but perhpaps the best thing a small business can do is preventive medicine, including credit checks on potential clients and a good client contract. No preventive measure will eliminate all problems but at least they will reduce the likelihood of a nonpayment issue. Recent blog post from David Leffler: 1 Hi! I just discovered your blog and it’s great. As a lawyer I represent a number of small businesses and I frequently find myself recommending web tools to assist them in operating their businesses, and your blog is certainly a good source for this.

I was unfamiliar with mycounsel.com, but I can guess as to one of the reasons that they are no longer in business. Any lawyer handling a collection matter for $125 is probably not going to be in business very long.
Considering that your lawyer had to review the “glut of contracts, invoices, phone logs and reminder notices” and then prepare a letter (and let’s assume it was a form letter), your talking about at least two hours of your lawyer’s time. This doesn’t include administrative time involved with setting you up as a client, and some exchange of emails and/or phone conversations with you regarding your matter. It also does not include an allocable portion of time that the lawyer spent reviewing the mycounsel.com opportunity, setting up an account there, and maintenance (payment for the service (perhaps auto pay, but still some time setting that up), responding to inquiries that go nowhere, etc.).
So, after including all of that, I’d say that the lawyer might be making $40 an hour or less, which is typically not a living wage for an attorney, given that you have to figure in the cost of the lawyer’s business overhaed before determining a profit, and not every hour spent by a lawyer during the work day is billable time (believe me, I know).
Having said that, I do know that small businesses regularly struggle with the costs of legal services, and often a problem that could use a lawyer is simply not worth the expense, considering the dollar value of the problem.
There are websites out there trying to solve this problem, but perhpaps the best thing a small business can do is preventive medicine, including credit checks on potential clients and a good client contract. No preventive measure will eliminate all problems but at least they will reduce the likelihood of a nonpayment issue.

Recent blog post from David Leffler: 1

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