Alas the long awaited fourth session of our series which focuses on clearing up the haze or "demystifying" the veiled and often intimidating world of legal services.
So getting right into it...there is a major trend toward on line legal services or "document pushers" as I like to call them. The thing is, there is a place for on line "self help" legal services. The question becomes whether a lawyer is really necessary and then what to look for in a lawyer to justify the additional expense? Well in today's lesson, I'm going to attempt to clarify this question for you.
First we need to ask what differentiates a good lawyer from an on line service provider? Well the answer is that a good lawyer will take the role of a consultant in a particular area of expertise. A good lawyer should probably have effective communication skills and you should feel comfortable interacting with him/her. In my opinion a good lawyer will be committed to educating the client and guiding the client toward the appropriate solution for his/her concerns. A good lawyer will have a sophisticated information gathering approach as part of this process and will demonstrate expertise in drawing out information that is important to the decision making process. A good lawyer will utilize information obtained from the client to create a customized solution for the client which should be based upon the clients unique circumstances, values and yes...budget. In my opinion a good lawyer will also take a 360 degree approach to each client's circumstances when designing an appropriate strategy, solution or path toward a solution.
So what does all of this say? Essentially, if you find an attorney that demonstrates the above characteristics, you've most likely found a professional who sets them self apart from a "canned" advisor or form pushers. Enough said, getting off my soap box...
Second, are there times when an on line document service will work? This very much a "case by case' question but in general on line documents lend themselves to "very simple boilerplate" kinds of documents such as a "quitclaim deed", simple "probate avoidance revocable trust" or "power of attorney". Remember that even simple documents can involve unforeseeable issues or legal consequences that an experienced practitioner would see immediately. So in summary, find a true professional or venture forth concerning "basic" matters at your own discretion.
Until next time friends,
SJG
