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June 13, 2003
CNBC
RON INSANA, co-anchor:
Happily ever after is everyone's dream and, in some cases, no one's reality. The reality is that contemporary marriages will have a survival rate of 50-50 or less. It is a fact that has produced a big opportunity in the small business world. Here's Mary Thompson.
MARY THOMPSON reporting:
British politician David Mellor once said, `Lawyers are like rhinoceroses, thick-skinned, short-sighted and always ready to charge.' But these days, there are some who are charging less. Celebrity lawyer Robert Shapiro, best known for being part of O.J. Simpson's Dream Team legal defense, still handles high-end clients, but he's also one of the founders of Legalzoom.com, a Web-based firm offering legal services at below-market rates.
Mr. ROBERT SHAPIRO (Legalzoom.com): In reality, the majority of people in this country do not know a lawyer or cannot afford a lawyer.
THOMPSON: Founded in March of 2001, 90,000 clients have used its services to draw up wills for as little as $55 vs. the $450 you might pay an attorney who charged you $220 an hour, or to incorporate their businesses for $199 plus state fees, compared to the estimated $1,369 a typical law firm might charge, again, using that $220-per-hour rate as an estimate. But money isn't all that matters to Legalzoom customers. It's time as well. That's what sold Valentino Agundez. She paid $249 for her uncontested divorce.
Ms. VALENTINO AGUNDEZ (Legalzoom Customer): It was like filling out an application for work. It was just really easy. I went through the steps. It took me maybe about 20 minutes to a half an hour to fill it out. I sent it back to them, you know. It was--it was really simple.
THOMPSON: Other firms offering similar services include We The People and CompleteCase.com. The American Bar Association says the fact that 50 percent of Americans choose not to hire a lawyer for various legal matters suggests a more affordable option is needed.
Mr. ALFRED P. CARLTON Jr. (American Bar Association President): We are promoting that, and we are trying to determine how to restructure delivery of legal service systems so that they can be better delivered to moderate-means Americans.
THOMPSON: As far as the law offices that already offer these services, the ABA says they have no firm numbers on how fast this segment of the legal world is growing. And while they endorse them, the ABA also cautions discount services aren't for those looking for lawyerly advice. They're best used for legal matters that require standard approaches.
Mr. CARLTON: Uncontested divorces, name changes, simple wills, traffic tickets, the like.
THOMPSON: The ABA says that if you are considering using discount services, check with your state to make sure the attorneys are licensed, or go to their Web site, www.aba.org, for a list of firms that offer moderately priced legal services. For CNBC BUSINESS CENTER, I'm Mary Thompson.
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