What we have in the legal industry is less a market than a medieval guild, powdered wigs optional. This means that more than three quarters of lawyers work for firms we've never heard of. As a result, there is no good way for most people to find the right lawyers and get them to compete for their business. Clients end up paying not for the value of the legal services they receive, but for the number of hours the lawyers spend working on it. Without name recognition, ratings, or competitive bidding, comparison shopping is impossible.
Most lawyers struggle to get their names out.
Many are forced to be generalists, taking the cases that find them rather than finding the cases they want. To the clients being turned away by the big firms, these small firm lawyers could offer a lot. They may not be experienced in public offerings, but many provide services that small businesses and startups desperately need, including advice on incorporations, employment law advice, commercial contracts, immigration, tax and leases. Others are well placed to assist individuals with issues of estate planning, family law or discrimination. Since Internet companies are creating the current situation, it's reassuring that Internet companies also are trying to solve it.