Please I need to reply to this
LegalZoom seems to be a very nifty website for anyone looking for legal advice. On the site you are able to access information about starting a business, apply for licenses, print forms, speak to attorneys, create wills and estates, among numerous other legal matters. The site even offers the premier self-guided divorce solution. All of these at a cost, of course. In my opinion LegalZoom is making a profit out of acting as a conduit almost. Although their name alone suggests that the site itself is lawyer affiliated, it does mention in finer print that the website acts in matching you with the perfect lawyer. I want to say that legally the website is acting legally as a middleman. If, however, the attorneys they use for their information and pairing are in fact licensed attorneys. LegalZoom must be responsible for picking only licensed acting attorneys, otherwise they would be acting in UPL. Upon scrolling through the attorney directory I found 3 listed in my state. I researched their credentials and found them to all be in fact licensed attorneys.
Upon reading the article written by Mr. Leef, I'm conflicted as to how I feel about the website. According to Leef, anything from websites and books on a legal matter is off limits to everyone who isn't a member of the bar. He also goes on to talk about the competition in the field. If, in fact legalzoom is offering legal advice by non-lawyers they are acting in UPL. However, if it is merely an issue of lawyer competition, I feel that everyone has the same tools and resources to advertise or utilize the web. What most concerns me is the lawyers jurisdiction. According to rule 5 of the Model rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers are not able to practice law in a jurisdiction they are not licensed in. Because the website is accessible to people all over, How do ensure lawyers are only practicing in their jurisdiction?