Unbundled legal services come in all flavors. Most lawyers offer full service or a full slate of legal services, so if you purchase their services you have to buy the whole kit and caboodle. Well, now another option is becoming much more prevalent, unbundled legal services. Unbundled legal services really means you can purchase just a certain piece of a specific legal service and can be used in multiple instances.
For instance, you may want to create a corporation and you want to do the legwork of filing on your own, but you know you need to have bylaws that are specifically tailored to your business (which is always a good idea, by the way). You may be able to find an attorney who offers unbundled legal services who would be willing to allow you to do the parts you want to do and take care of the other pieces for you. Or, you may be involved in some litigation and you want to represent yourself but know you need some advice on strategy and procedure. An attorney who offers unbundled legal services may be willing to help you behind the scenes.
In some instances unbundled legal services can work well, in other instances, not so much. If you are looking to save a little money by hiring an attorney for unbundled legal services you should be aware of the following:
- The attorney will be advising you or assisting you only on the parts or pieces that you have retained them for which could leave a hole in your strategy or, if you do not do what you are supposed to do, leave you legally exposed;
- You will need to take full responsibility to hold up your end of the bargain because no one will be making sure that those things outside of the purview of the attorney are handled timely or at all; and
- Attorneys do the kinds of things all the time that you are trying to help with, they can generally do it much more efficiently and effectively.
Attorneys are hired for their expertise, not to fill out forms. If it’s a form you need you can get that from the internet. The trouble is that one form does not fit all purposes and a square peg does not fit so well into a round hole. What you are actually paying for when you hire an attorney is the strategy and know how to best protect you in whatever situation that has occurred. Therefore, although unbundled legal services may be appropriate in some instances, there are many times when it may not be feasible or make sense to piece things out.
If you are contemplating unbundled legal services as an option, Integrated General Counsel can help you determine your next steps. If you are ready for a results-driven plan of action, contact us either by telephone at (925) 399-1529, schedule yourself into our calendar for an appointment at a time convenient for you, or complete the Contact Kristen form and we will get back to you.
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