Avvo wants to make it even easier to find a lawyer online.
The Seattle-based company today unveiled a new product that expands upon its service that connects people to attorneys.
Avvo already sells Avvo Advisor, which charges users $39 in exchange for a 15-minute phone call with a lawyer who provides legal advice. Users pick the category of their legal issue and Avvo matches them with the first available attorney in their area for a phone call.
Now the company is taking it one step further with Avvo Legal Services, a new offering that includes full-scale services with advice, document review, and offline meetings included. It also allows people to choose a lawyer of their choice, with detailed profiles showing their background.
Initially, Avvo Legal Services will focus on business, family, and immigration issues. Use cases include someone who needs to understand how to start a business; someone that is going through a divorce and needs a lawyer; or someone needing to evaluate their citizenship application. Most of the legal services are provided within one business day of purchase.
“When the majority of Americans forego legal representation for important, but routine legal issues, we know there’s a problem,” Avvo CEO Mark Britton said in a statement. “By bringing these legal services to a shopping platform that provides people a selection of attorneys in their area at a fixed price, we’re bringing unparalleled cost transparency and ease of access to an industry that intimidates many.”
There will be 15-minute advice sessions available for $39, and a number of other legal services available to purchase in a la carte style. Here are some of the services (click to enlarge):
Avvo Legal Services is currently available in 18 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Founded in 2006, Avvo has raised $132 million to date, including a substantial $71.5 million round that closed this past July. Avvo also offers a Q&A forum with more than 9 million questions and answers, along with profiles for 97 percent of practicing lawyers in the United States.
The 350-person company recently moved into a new downtown Seattle office — check back later for a video tour of the new space.