Firm Management
Apps We Love June 2019 – Legal Services
When we think of lawyers and legal issues, our minds might still go to law firms and the formality of the court system, but, like most things today, the legal services profession is being disrupted with apps and do-it-yourself solutions.
Jun. 12, 2019
When we think of lawyers and legal issues, our minds might still go to law firms and the formality of the court system, but, like most things today, the legal services profession is being disrupted with apps and do-it-yourself solutions. If you are in need of legal services, before you pay a retainer and sign on for hefty hourly fees, you might want to eyeball this list to see if your needs can be met less expensively and more expediently.
Backed by excellent reviews, One Touch Law promises to connect users with “the best lawyers available,” and the first 15 minute consultation either by video or phone is free. Lawyers can sign up if they want to work the phone lines, and those in need of legal services can search the database and review lawyer profiles and estimated fees before selecting an available lawyer.
When we think of matchmaking, our minds probably go to apps like Tinder and OkCupid, but there are matchmaking apps for finding lawyers too! Legal Services Link matches attorneys with those seeking legal needs. Users post their needs at no charge and lawyers on the system contact you through the app or via email. Users can review the responses and choose a lawyer.
Pondering a divorce? If so, you might be wondering about the cost of child support and alimony. The Divorce/Alimony Calculator app asks a few simple questions and then its calculator goes to work, giving you estimates of how to divide assets and debts, child support, and potential payments to a soon-to-be-former spouse. You can also connect with lawyers in your geographical area through the app.
The company, Pre-Paid Legal Services, has created several apps serving a variety of legal purposes. The leader of the pack is LegalShield, an app that allows you to connect with your law firm, upload documents and pictures, access 24-7 emergency legal assistance, and it also provides instant guidance if you get in a legal jam. Also from this company, there is Forms by LegalShield, an app that enables you to use templates to create, sign, and send contracts. Created just last year, IDShield identity protection services provides identity monitoring, consultation, credit scores, and identity restoration services.
More and more accountants are using DocuSign to collect esignatures from clients. You can import and prepare documents on your device, send the documents to clients for esignatures, receive notifications when the documents have been signed, send reminders, and view an audit trail showing when documents were signed. Documents signed through DocuSign are legally binding.
Are you a victim of inappropriate behavior, bullying, harassment, hazing, etc.? The new STOPit app provides you with a messenger tool where you can anonymously report any of these types of concerns to an employer or school administrator. Keep an eye on this one. In theory it’s clever and timely, but so far reviews are sub-par, indicating many people are using the app to make false claims that cause more problems than they solve. The developers haven’t found a way to prevent the false claims and recommend that every claim be investigated carefully before any action is taken. But in this world of divisiveness and hatred, an app like this is taking an interesting approach at solving a major problem.