It’s never been easier to get legal advice. From the comfort of your sofa, you can retain an attorney, talk to that attorney, and even finalize legal documents. The best online legal services offer access to qualified attorneys without breaking the bank. Here are some of the top eight online legal services to help you find the one that meets your needs.
- LegalShield: Best Overall
- LegalZoom: Best for Small Businesses
- Nolo: Best for Affordable Legal Services
- Rocket Lawyer: Best for Simple Legal Matters
- UpCounsel: Best for Business Attorney Matching
- FindLaw: Best for Legal Information
- Incfile: Best for Starting a New Business
- Avvo: Best for Attorney Reviews
| Site | Price | Core feature |
| LegalShield | $24.95 monthly personal; $49 monthly business | Connects you with local attorney |
| LegalZoom | Varies by service bundle type | Compiles and files legal forms |
| Nolo | Basic services start at $99 | Free legal advice and affordable services |
| Rocket Lawyer | $39.99 monthly after free seven-day trial | Legal documents and Q&A |
| UpCounsel | Varies by chosen attorney | Attorney matching |
| FindLaw | Varies by chosen attorney | Case law and legal analysis |
| Incfile | Varies by chosen attorney | Incorporating new business |
| Avvo | Varies by chosen attorney | Finding reputable attorneys |
8 Best Online Legal Services
LegalShield: Best Overall
If you’re looking for an all-around legal solution, LegalShield could be the platform for you. For a flat fee starting at $24.95 a month (or $49 a month for businesses), you’ll have ongoing access to legal services. When you need help, you’ll choose the type of law, select an attorney in your area, and schedule an appointment to talk.
LegalShield is great if you have an ongoing need for legal support. If you’re starting a small business or caring for aging parents, for instance, you might need the peace of mind that comes from ongoing access to an attorney. If you only occasionally need legal help, though, you might be better off paying as you need one. Reviews are positive overall, with negative reviews often coming from customers who felt they weren’t getting enough out of the service to justify the monthly fee.
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Pros
- Connects you with local attorneys
- User-friendly mobile app
- Ongoing collections services available to businesses
Cons
- Can be pricey if you don’t need ongoing legal help
- Basic fee doesn’t cover all business forms
LegalZoom: Best for Small Businesses
LegalZoom provides its services in bundles, with options for both individuals and businesses. Although you can book legal consultations through LegalZoom, where the platform excels is in its paperwork. You’ll get the forms you need, overseen by legal experts, and they’ll even submit them for you.
As for pricing, services are sold in bundles. LLC formation packages start at $149, while annual reports start at $99 and trademark registration starts at $599. Prices don’t include state filing fees. For individuals, wills start at $89, while property deed transfers start at $249. LegalZoom also tends to offer upsells throughout the checkout process, which customers find exhausting.
Pros
- Customizable legal forms
- Wide range of legal services
- Built-in consideration of local laws
Cons
- Can be pricey for startups and individuals
- Constant ads for upsells
Nolo: Best for Affordable Legal Services
If you’re on a tight budget, Nolo can be an alternative to pricier services. Nolo specializes in providing information in the form of books, articles, and software. What makes Nolo one of the best online legal services is that it’s a do-it-yourself option that lets you do a deep dive into a particular legal topic.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t go a step further with Nolo and get actual legal help. Nolo’s biggest benefit is its customizable forms. If you need a will or power of attorney, you can find the form on Nolo and use it. The majority of customer complaints relate to customer service, particularly not being able to get into contact with an attorney when they had legal questions.
Pros
- Customizable legal forms at affordable rates
- Wealth of free legal resources
- Free access to attorney directories
Cons
- Turnaround times can be slow
- Terms of service can be tough to navigate
Rocket Lawyer: Best for Simple Legal Matters
Rocket Lawyer is another pay-per-month service, with pricing starting at $39.99 a month. This monthly plan includes easy-to-create legal documents, e-sign access, and one 30-minute consultation with an attorney on any new legal issue. What makes Rocket Lawyer one of the best online legal services, though, is its seven-day free trial option. You can cancel your plan at any time once you’ve joined.
Where Rocket Lawyer excels is in giving you quick help with legal questions and documents. If you need full-on legal counsel, you’ll get a discount on referrals, but for the most part, it’s designed for simpler legal issues. The most common complaints are from customers who signed up for the seven-day trial and didn’t cancel in time, then had to fight to get the recurring charge refunded.
Pros
- Free LLC incorporation for new members
- Free 7-day trial
- Q&A lets you get expert answers
Cons
- Not designed for full legal representation
- Slow turnaround on document review
UpCounsel: Best for Business Attorney Matching
If you’re looking for online law services for your business, UpCounsel might be a good option. The platform serves as an attorney matching service, helping you find the best lawyer for your needs. For that reason, the prices vary dramatically from one provider to the next, making it tough to predict what you’ll pay. Upcounsel does have sample pricing on its site, though, with trademark packages ranging from $600-$800 and commercial contracts running between $125 and $250 an hour.
But what makes Upcounsel one of the best online legal services is its free legal documents and templates. Upcounsel lawyers created these, so you’ll just need to customize them to your needs. You could draw up your document and pay to have it reviewed by an attorney, saving a little on the hourly fee. Reviewers primarily complain about slow response times from lawyers in the network, but that will depend on the attorney you choose.
Pros
- Free legal documents and templates
- Document management service things organized
- Specializes in small business legal needs
Cons
- Response time can be slow
- Can be pricier than other online attorney services
- Service quality varies by attorney
FindLaw: Best for Legal Information
FindLaw is a service of Thomson Reuters, a long-respected resource in the legal field. Although FindLaw is one of the best online legal services for attorneys and law students, it’s also useful for businesses and consumers. The biggest benefit of FindLaw is information. You’ll have access to case law, legal analysis, useful articles, and more.
Since FindLaw simply connects lawyers with those looking for legal services for business owners, prices aren’t disclosed. You’ll negotiate fees once you’ve tracked down an attorney. Many lawyers in the directory offer free consultations, so you can make sure it’s the right fit. Reviewers praise it as a great information resource but complain about the sluggish response from attorneys.
Pros
- Free case law information and legal analysis
- Track down nearby attorneys by specialty
- Years of legal expertise behind platform
Cons
- Interface not as user-friendly as competitors
- Vast legal directory with little vetting of attorneys
Incfile: Best for Starting a New Business
Incfile has a very specific purpose: filing incorporation papers. It’s one of the best online legal services if you’re launching a startup and need to get your legal paperwork in order. Incfile specializes in limited liability companies, S-corporations, C corporations, and nonprofits.
What makes Incfile one of the best online legal services for small business, though, is that its silver plan is free. This will give you most of the documentation you need to get going. You’ll just have to pay state filing fees. But to get features like banking resolution and an operating agreement, you’ll need to upgrade to Gold, which costs $199. Reviews are generally positive, but customers do complain about unresponsive customer support and aggressive upsells.
Pros
- Most features are free
- Easy-to-use interface
- Name availability search helps you choose a business name
Cons
- Services are limited to business incorporation
- No live chat support
Avvo: Best for Attorney Reviews
If you’re in the market for an attorney, Avvo is another option. Avvo is one of the best online legal services due to its massive directory of attorneys. Each listing has customer ratings and reviews, as well as an Avvo score that takes the lawyer’s case history and reputation into account. Avvo might not be one of the best online legal services for businesses looking for specialized services. With so many practice areas, it’s simply better for connecting with an attorney.
In addition to its directory, Avvo also offers free access to Q&A and articles on a variety of legal topics. Most negative reviews about the service mention disappointment with attorneys chosen through the site. It’s important to note that the ratings can’t be guaranteed. You should conduct independent research on attorneys before making a choice.
Pros
- Free directory and legal services
- Attorneys are rated by clients and Avvo
- Directory browsable by location and practice area
Cons
- Reviews can be unreliable
- Reports of reviews being censored
Methodology
Finding the right legal services can be tricky. You don’t want to overpay, but you also want to make sure you’re getting the coverage you need. The best online legal services vary by individual preference. With that in mind, we made an effort to choose a combination of sites that provide attorney directories and legal advice.
In addition to browsing each service’s offerings, we also paid particular attention to customer reviews. Previous and current users of the various services are the best gauge of how useful a site is. That said, often reviews relating to poor attorney response times are more a reflection on those attorneys than the site itself. It can be difficult for a directory service to ensure every listing will provide a top-quality customer service experience. Keep that in mind as you’re comparing providers.
If you’re looking for the best online legal services, it’s important to first decide what you want. You can then narrow down the options. While some services are more expensive than others, thanks to online legal services, you can now gather forms and information at an affordable rate, then have an attorney review it all.
FAQs
Is UpCounsel good for attorneys?
UpCounsel is a good service for attorneys interested in connecting with new clients. You’ll be encouraged to sign up for an initial three-month pilot in which the UpCounsel team works with you to identify your needs and ensure you get the most from the platform.
