3 ms·

If you’re in any big city, you’re not going to get more than a “consultation” of half an hour for $100. Most of the answers you’ll get in that meeting are the o

If you’re in any big city, you’re not going to get more than a “consultation” of half an hour for $100. Most of the answers you’ll get in that meeting are the ones you can find by a quick Google search, anything more and it will cost you a lot more. The only cheap option, if you’re lucky, is the local bar association usually does pro bono office hours that you could possibly sign up for and get in. Those don’t work for time sensitive issues like when you have to sign a contract by X date.

elil17 4y ago
Well don't go to a lawyer in a big city? You can easily interact with a lawyer virtually. Even if all they do is tell you what you could find out in a Google search if you knew what to search, it's going to be more useful for the average person because lawyers have the confidence to interpret legal terminology, contextualize what they are telling you, and recognize what is and is not normal (e.g. notice predatory terms in a contract).
- jacobr1 4y ago
  Also commonly-held positions that are false, or not applicable in a certain jurisdiction. Google can be misleading. This is one of the big advantages of having a good network of friends and family with a wide variety of expertise. I wouldn't necessarily ask my lawyer friends to review a contract for me ... but I won't hesitate to ask if I should ask a lawyer, or about a general principle or clause that seems weird and help inform if I need more specific paid advice.
- bushbaba 4y ago
  I wonder if basic legal issues will one day be handled by something like chatGPT.
  - nullsense 4y ago
    It would have to stop confidently making bullshit first I would imagine.
Alupis 4y ago
You do not need to go sit in some fancy law firm's office to get good legal advice. Just because you live in a Big City doesn't mean you need to pay Big City "Power Firm" rates for basic contract advice and consultations. In those situations you're not meeting with partners anyway - you're getting assigned to a junior associate at best. Often, the paralegals end up doing all the grunt work anyway... and if you're not careful you'll pay them as-if a senior partner dedicated their entire day to your basic mundane situation.

elil17 4y ago

Well don't go to a lawyer in a big city? You can easily interact with a lawyer virtually. Even if all they do is tell you what you could find out in a Google search if you knew what to search, it's going to be more useful for the average person because lawyers have the confidence to interpret legal terminology, contextualize what they are telling you, and recognize what is and is not normal (e.g. notice predatory terms in a contract).

jacobr1 4y ago
Also commonly-held positions that are false, or not applicable in a certain jurisdiction. Google can be misleading. This is one of the big advantages of having a good network of friends and family with a wide variety of expertise. I wouldn't necessarily ask my lawyer friends to review a contract for me ... but I won't hesitate to ask if I should ask a lawyer, or about a general principle or clause that seems weird and help inform if I need more specific paid advice.
bushbaba 4y ago
I wonder if basic legal issues will one day be handled by something like chatGPT.
- nullsense 4y ago
  It would have to stop confidently making bullshit first I would imagine.

Alupis 4y ago

You do not need to go sit in some fancy law firm's office to get good legal advice. Just because you live in a Big City doesn't mean you need to pay Big City "Power Firm" rates for basic contract advice and consultations. In those situations you're not meeting with partners anyway - you're getting assigned to a junior associate at best. Often, the paralegals end up doing all the grunt work anyway... and if you're not careful you'll pay them as-if a senior partner dedicated their entire day to your basic mundane situation.