I wrote a post earlier this year on how bootstrapping entrepreneurs are getting on-line bids to help choose a graphic designer to develop their logos. This business model is seeing more applications, including legal services at a website called LawBidding.com.
"Entrepreneurs and small businesses often need legal help on many issues and often do not know where to start in their search for an attorney," says Nick Cronin, founder of LawBidding.com. "Unfortunately, in addition to the time it takes to find the right attorney, many time entrepreneurs are working with tight budgets and thus often feel they cannot afford an attorney. LawBidding.com aims to remedy these problems by making it more efficient and more affordable to find the right attorney."
Not sure how well this particular site works, but it is a fascinating business model that will find more and more applications for connecting service providers with small business owners via the Internet.
"Entrepreneurs and small businesses often need legal help on many issues and often do not know where to start in their search for an attorney," says Nick Cronin, founder of LawBidding.com. "Unfortunately, in addition to the time it takes to find the right attorney, many time entrepreneurs are working with tight budgets and thus often feel they cannot afford an attorney. LawBidding.com aims to remedy these problems by making it more efficient and more affordable to find the right attorney."
Not sure how well this particular site works, but it is a fascinating business model that will find more and more applications for connecting service providers with small business owners via the Internet.
I guess the world is evolving to such an extent that you need to be specialized in whatever you do to survive. Companies need to concentrate more and more on their core competencies while outsourcing work that does not complement their competencies. Legal is definitely one area that can be outsourced and should be outsourced at the most economical prices. LawBidding looks pretty workable.
I'm a lawyer (hope you won't hold that against me) and I work with small business owners in starting and operating businesses. I believe the lawbidding concept has merit but one limitation I see is finding someone that you can start using on a regular basis. Maybe this can be done - I don't know. One suggestion for small business people to use in finding a local attorney which specializes in small business is to ask another attorney in a different field - such as family law or personal injury - who they recommend as a good affordable small business atttorney. Most of them will know good attorneys and since you are not getting into their field - most will be happy to give you a referral. If you can't reach the attorney, just ask for his secretary. Again, most will help you out with this.