LegalMatch helps people find the right lawyer. Anyone can
present a case (answer some
simple questions about their legal situation) for free on the LegalMatch Web site without
revealing their identity. Then, LegalMatch pre-screened lawyers review your presented case,
and decide whether to respond to your legal issue. When a lawyer is interested in helping you,
we'll provide you with the lawyer's background information so that you can make a smart decision.
Nothing. LegalMatch is FREE. Both consumers and businesses can use LegalMatch for
FREE to find the right lawyer for their case. There are no hidden costs, fees, or other charges.
Even after you find a lawyer using LegalMatch, there is no obligation to hire that lawyer. LegalMatch provides you with a choice lawyers for FREE. You can then decide to hire a lawyer, or hire no one. For matters that need extra attention or require a quicker response time, you have the option to upgrade your case to two levels of Priority Service for a nominal fee. You select which level of service your case needs (Standard-Free, Priority, or Real-time) at the end of the case presentation process.
Your case will only be presented to matching LegalMatch Member Attorneys who have paid an annual fee to respond to your inquiries.
Traditionally, people have found lawyers through Yellow Pages, directories, or friends. The LegalMatch founders realized that each of these resources had severe limitations, and none allowed the consumer to make an informed decision when selecting legal counsel. The Yellow Pages and other directories are a big confusing mass of ads where anyone can buy an ad- who knows if a particular lawyer even has a license? And friends, though probably well meaning, may steer you toward a totally inappropriate lawyer. Just because your friend knows a great tax lawyer doesn't mean that person can handle your divorce!
So, here's why using LegalMatch is the best way to help you find the right lawyer:
1) Our automated matching system only matches you with lawyers that meet the specifications you entered when presenting your case.
2) All of the lawyers in our system have been carefully screened. This means they have a valid license, good standing with their state bar association, good references, and no serious problems concerning their professional history.
3) You will have access to detailed information on all lawyers who respond to your case - where they went to school, what they've accomplished in the past, what they charge, and where their professional values stand. With LegalMatch, you stay in control of the process - and in the end, you can make an informed decision about hiring a lawyer.
Legal problems are often sensitive issues. Who really wants to call random lawyers out of
the phone book to discuss personal issues? Sometimes, even asking a friend about finding a lawyer
can be uncomfortable. With LegalMatch, you don't have to show your face or talk to anyone until
after you've confidentially described your case on our secure Web site. Lawyers will review
your case in writing - you don't have to say a thing! We won't release your contact information
(name, address, telephone number) to anyone, including the lawyers interested in helping you, until
you decide to. Lawyers will only see your case summary and where you need legal help. You can read
responses from lawyers, check out their professional backgrounds - and then make a phone call. By
the time you connect with a lawyer, both of you already know a good deal about each other! You can
get started on solving your problem without the awkwardness or fear of the unknown.
Clients don't magically appear at lawyers' offices. Lawyers have to work to attract them. This usually involves spending a lot of money on Yellow Page advertisements or joining a referral service. While these methods may certainly cause clients to call a lawyer, they in no way guarantee that the client will have an appropriate case for that lawyer. Basically, advertising leads to a lot of wasted time for a lawyer in the form of screening phone calls and conducting free consultations. With LegalMatch, a lawyer can just log on to our Web site and read case summaries before inviting potential clients to call. LegalMatch helps lawyers connect with the clients they really want to help - not just with any stranger who has a legal problem! This way, they can build a more successful practice.
Sure. Once someone has worked with a LegalMatch lawyer, they can leave feedback about that lawyer
for other people to see. Did this lawyer return phone calls? Did this lawyer win that person's case?
Find out by reading the "Ratings" of lawyers interested in your legal matter.
Our users create the ratings; while LegalMatch pre-screens our member attorneys to make sure they are good standing with their local or state bar association, we are not a factor in their rating quality or ranking.
1) LegalMatch is not a referral service. When a consumer presents their issue on LegalMatch, our system matches the consumer's case to LegalMatch lawyers in their city or county based on the specifics of the consumer's case and the lawyer's location and area of legal practice. LegalMatch Member Attorneys pay to participate in our service.
Unlike referral services, LegalMatch believes that informed consumers know best when it comes to choosing the right lawyer for their needs. With LegalMatch, you're given the power to confidentially and thoroughly review the experience, track record, availability, and fee structure of pre-screened lawyers who match your criteria before deciding whom to contact.
2) We screen lawyers before they join our program. If they don't meet our standards, we'll reject them.
3) We require lawyers to actively participate in the service. This means a lawyer won't be successful with LegalMatch just by passing our screening process and paying dues. We require lawyers to regularly use our service and interact with potential clients. Otherwise, you won't choose them! First and foremost, LegalMatch strives to serve the consumer.
LegalMatch uses many modern Internet technologies to present cases and distribute them to lawyers,
so you should be using a recent version of your chosen browser. Here is a list of Internet browsers that
fully support the technologies LegalMatch needs to operate best:
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or newer
• Netscape 7.0 or newer
• America Online 6.0 or newer
LegalMatch uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to protect selected private information you may input
on our site. Our security certificate is valid for the domain name www.legalmatch.com. It is also
possible to access LegalMatch without using the prefix WWW, however when you do so, the accessed
Internet address will not match the address the certificate is valid for and your browser will alert
you with a warning. If you do not click Yes (or Continue or OK) to proceed, you will NOT be able
to login. Examples of the error messages for common Web browsers are
shown here.
To properly view LegalMatch and present a case to our system that local lawyers in your area may
review, your Web browser security settings must reset.
Your security settings for your Web browser may have been set to the highest level. This can turn
off many features (such as JavaScript) that are needed to use LegalMatch. To reset your security
levels to the manufacturer's recommended setting,
click here.
You should be using a version 5.0 or newer of Internet Explorer, version 6.0 or newer of Netscape,
or version 5.0 or newer of AOL to use the LegalMatch system. If you're using an older version of
any of these programs, use these links to upgrade to a newer version:
Cookies allow Web sites such as LegalMatch to track a user's progress through the site.
While cookies may store personal information that you enter into a Web page for any Web
site, they cannot access and 'read' your hard drive, and most expire when a session is over.
For you to use LegalMatch properly, cookies need to be enabled on your computer. Any information
you enter while using LegalMatch is stored on our servers and not in cookies. Your password is
encrypted before being stored and so is any credit card information we might receive (for Priority
Service cases only). For a complete description of how cookies work, see
www.webopedia.com.
If security and/or privacy settings for your Web browser are set to the medium-high or highest levels,
cookies will be disallowed and other Web browser functions disabled. You will not be able to use
LegalMatch. You may reset your Web browser's security and/or privacy levels as indicated in the views
below and use LegalMatch with confidence. Use the default settings as recommended by Microsoft and
Netscape. For instructions on how to reset your browser to use cookies,
click here.
If you're a consumer or client with a question about a case presentation or how to use our service,
e-mail this link to send a message to our customer support
staff or call 1-(866)-678-5342.
If you're an attorney who needs assistance with their LegalMatch membership,
click here to submit
a support request from attorney support or call 1-(415)-946-0898.
Simple. If you think you need a lawyer, go to the LegalMatch Web site. Click "Present a Case", and you'll be taken to an area that asks you simple questions about your legal matter. Once you've filled in the information, our technology "matches" you to lawyers in the area you requested who practice in the type of law you need help with. These lawyers will get to read summaries of your case and decide whether they'd like to work with you. Then, they'll send you a "response message" (a message with their contact information, and a link to their "Profile" - which has lots of information on their background) - or call you directly, if you prefer. When you and a lawyer connect through LegalMatch, it's because you're already familiar with one another and both want to work together.
Not at this time. The point is to gather information and make an intelligent client/lawyer match.
So, we always need you to tell us about your legal matter first on our Web site. We do not accept
any legal matters via telephone or e-mail. Presenting your case on our Web site only takes a few
minutes; it's confidential, and it's actually kind of fun!
Presenting your case on LegalMatch will take about 20 minutes or less depending on the nature
of your matter.
Finding a lawyer using LegalMatch will take between 1- 3 business days depending on level of
service you requested. You may begin to receive lawyer responses immediately, but we recommend
you wait a little to allow the majority of lawyers to review and make responses on your case.
For Real-time Priority service, wait one business day; for Priority Service, 1-2 business days;
and for our Standard Service, 1-3 business days.
LegalMatch actually saves you time in the end. The alternative to LegalMatch is calling each
lawyer individually and scheduling 30-minute consultations, which may not happen for several
days in the future. You may have to speak with 5-10 different lawyers before you not only find
someone who has the experience to handle your case, but also is willing to take your matter at
the dollar rate you require. Plus, we provide more background information about the lawyers than
you could ever get from a consultation.
All of your information is completely confidential on LegalMatch. We will not distribute your
personal information to any other organization, nor will we use it for any other purpose other
than to help you find the right lawyer. Likewise, lawyers will not know your identity or contact
information until you decide to reveal them.
To review our complete privacy policy, please
click here.
Think of it this way: we'll do the homework, and you grade it. This means we'll provide you
with detailed information on every lawyer interested in working on your case. Then you look
it over, and learn background information about the lawyer, such as where they went to school,
their level of experience, their rates, and their professional philosophy. Take everything
into consideration for each lawyer - expertise, personality, pricing, "gut feeling", etc. We'll
give you the inside scoop about the lawyer, but ultimately we trust you to choose who's
right for your situation. Most lawyers will offer a free initial consultation; so if you're still
not sure, give that lawyer a call.
You can view the status of your case at any time by logging into your LegalMatch account. To
view your LegalMatch account, log into LegalMatch
with your username and password. If you have forgotten your username,
click here. If you have
forgotten your password,
click here.
Once you are logged into your LegalMatch account, you can view how many lawyers have viewed your
case and how many have made responses. If you need to, you can also modify your case details or
your contact information.
Finding a lawyer using LegalMatch will take between 1-3 business days depending on level of
service you requested. You may begin to receive lawyer responses immediately, but we recommend
you wait a little to allow the majority of lawyers to review and make responses on your case.
For Real-time Priority service, wait one business day; for Priority Service, 1-2 business days;
and for our Standard Service, 1-3 business days.
LegalMatch actually saves you time in the end. The alternative to LegalMatch is calling each
lawyer individually and scheduling 30-minute consultations, which may not happen for several
days in the future. You may also have to speak with 5-10 different lawyers before you not only
find someone who has the experience to handle your case, but is also willing to take your matter
at the dollar rate you require. Plus, we provide more background information about the lawyers
than you could ever get from a consultation.
When a lawyer makes a response on your case, you will receive an instant e-mail notification.
This e-mail notification will direct you to the LegalMatch Web site to view the full lawyer
response and profile. You may also begin to receive telephone calls from lawyers if you agreed
to release your contact information.
To view the lawyer response, log into www.legalmatch.com with your username and password. If
you have forgotten your username
click here.
If you have forgotten your password
click here.
Click on the "View Responses" button to see all responses to your case. You can then view the
lawyer's personal response message to you, plus each lawyer's profile and background information.
Contact the lawyers you feel could best help your case. Remember, unless you contact a lawyer or
agreed to release your contact information, the lawyers interested in your case do not know who you are.
After you log in, you'll be on your personal home page. Find the correct "Case Identification #"
and below it is a "Modify" link. Click on it. This will allow you to review the answers you
provided during your case presentation for that case. Continue through the pages until you reach
the information that you want to modify. Make the changes and then, simply click on "Continue to
next step" button until you reach the "Review and Confirm Page" and continue to the next page
which will allow you to select the type of service you choose. Press on the "Submit" Button.
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