Are Online Legal Services Really Cheaper?

 

         At first, online legal services such as legalzoom.com, and legalhelpmate.com, seem like great tools for the cost-conscious, do-it-yourself small business owner.  There are a myriad of online services that allow business owners, entrepreneurs, and other individuals to create legal documents and corporate formation documents for businesses.  Services include trademark applications, patent applications, wills, and business incorporations.  But, in the long run, are these online services really cheaper?

 

The great thing about these online legal service providers is that you don’t have to graduate from law school or pass the bar exam to use these services.  These services can be effective for basic legal document creation, but are neither sources of legal advice nor do they offer recommendations or advise people on their legal rights.  Additionally, these sites take no legal responsibility for any document created: PERIOD!

 

If you are prepared to take the time to independently research the services that online legal service providers offer, and are aware that the only person held accountable for mistakes is yourself, then these online services might suffice for your needs.  However, if you wish to receive individualized legal advice, personal business counseling and insight from a legal professional, then you may wish to consult an attorney for assistance with your legal and business needs.

 

When you consult with an attorney, you are getting an entire package of experience, advice, and personal customer service.  An attorney can customize business documents to suit you and your business.  An attorney can save you the hassle of attempting to remedy a problem by yourself and usually is available for consultation at any time.  Yes, initially the services of an attorney cost more than self-help sites, but an attorney may save you long term costs and headaches. 

 

Simply put, you should consider all of your options before using online legal document services since the creation of certain legal documents are of the utmost importance to you and your business.

 

Post written by: Gina Franco

 

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This blog is intended to assist clients, colleagues and friends in their overall familiarity of the areas of practice and the services offered by Jamie Pruitt Law. This blog is for advertising purposes only and nothing contained herein should be considered legal advice. Each person or business has different circumstances and must be counseled individually. Reading information contained in this blog does not create a legal relationship with Jamie Pruitt Law and the information contained herein is protected by law.  Jamie Pruitt Law does not endorse any website contained in this blog and makes no guarantee or warranty regarding any website or the authenticity of such site.  Unauthorized copying, alteration, display or distribution of any material is prohibited.

 

 

Speaking of blogs . . .

Widespread Blogging 

The use of blogs has dramatically increased over the past few years and business owners should pay attention to this world of Internet exposure.  Blogs can be maintained as highly effective communication and marketing tools.  However, blogs can also expose businesses to liability for postings, retaliation from employees and clients, and potential release of confidential business information.  Business owners should familiarize themselves with online communities and create policies and procedures that specifically address blogs and related Internet postings. 

What could happen?      

Would you want every day-to-day activity of your business posted online for the world to read?  With the vast amount of blog communities, business owners should understand that it is difficult to regulate information that may be released to the public by means of a blog. 

Check out Xoogler; an ex-Google employee’s blog that has received a decent amount of media attention.  You may note, in Blogger Doug Edwards’ Here’s your desk. Now start doing marketing stuff, he identifies other Google employees by their full names and discusses specific details about his days at Google.  In another post, Edwards explains his postings are, “just an impressionistic look at Google from the perspective of a guy who worked there, with a bias toward how the brand was built.”  As a former insider, how much will he reveal about the brand and how it was built?

There are many free blog hosting sites and software is readily available to ease bloggers in maintaining their posts.  Blogs have a potentially indefinite lifespan and you may not be entitled to information regarding who may view the blog and how many times.  Internet intelligence is rapidly increasing and blogs may receive exposure from various places.  How many of you did I just direct to the Xoogler blog?  Are there already blogs, comments, or online reviews regarding your business?  Do you know?

Learn more about blogs.

As a business owner, you should research blogs and keep them in mind when creating a standard for your business.  Ignorance of online communities may be damaging to your business and it’s reputation.  Explore blogs and other online resources to stay informed of the ever-evolving business world and to produce relevant blogging policies and procedures. 

-Jamie T. Pruitt
Jamie Pruitt Law

Advertising Material:
This blog is intended to assist clients, colleagues and friends in their overall familiarity of the areas of practice and the services offered by Jamie Pruitt Law. This blog is for advertising purposes only and nothing contained herein should be considered legal advice. Each person or business has different circumstances and must be counseled individually. Reading information contained in this blog does not create a legal relationship with Jamie Pruitt Law and the information contained herein is protected by law.  Jamie Pruitt Law does not endorse any website contained in this blog and makes no guarantee or warranty regarding any website or the authenticity of such site.  Unauthorized copying, alteration, display or distribution of any material is prohibited.