This is an excellent question…but it’s not so simple to answer. To explain, there are many companies out there that offer free legal advice, and they all have their pros and cons.
For example, some of these companies will give you generic answers to your legal questions (which may be helpful if all you need is general information). Others may have attorneys on staff who will provide more specific legal help, but you may need to be a member of their organization in order to get this help.
There are also some companies that offer free legal consultations specifically for small businesses. This can be a great option if you want to sit down with an attorney and discuss your business in detail. However, keep in mind that these consultations are usually very short, and you may not be able to receive answers to all of your questions.
Finally, some companies offer free legal advice in the form of online resources or articles. This can be a great way to learn more about specific topics, but it’s important to remember that these resources should not be relied on as being the same as the legal recommendations you’d get from a professional attorney.
Take LegalZoom for example, the company has a good rating with the Better Business Bureau and on review sites such as TrustPilot. However, they are not lawyers and can’t practice law. Therefore, they are no substitute for a professional attorney.
Think of “Ask a Lawyer” sites like LegalZoom as more of a DIY portal to legal documents and FAQs. Still, they can be excellent resources for forming an LLC, business registration, trademark protection or other similar small business needs.
If you are forming your business, Inc Authority is the best for-profit company mentioned in this guide since they offer both LLC formation services and a year of registered agent service for free.
On the other hand, we saw that business programs at local non-profits are often managed by lawyers and other professionals, so that is another good resource you can tap into for several types of legal questions and assistance.