UpCounsel, Lawdingo and Priori Legal have ridden a robust tech wave into the legal services online marketplace. They’re all branded as “the Uber of law” and have generated buzz among lawyers.
But how do they compare with one another? And are they really the “Uber of law”? Let’s find out.
1. Access to high-quality clients
One of the biggest benefits of being a freelance lawyer is the access to high-quality clients. In addition to helping you build your reputation and brand, these clients can also provide you with stable income.
The legal industry is slowly moving toward a more digital marketplace. Startups like UpCounsel, Lawdingo, and LawTrades are riding a robust tech (and derivative branding) wave to disrupt the traditional law firm/solo practitioner dichotomy.
Lawtrades recently raked in $6 million for its Series A, which included Four Cities Capital and Draper Associates. Using Capchase to finance growth meant that Raad Ahmed and his co-founders could avoid equity dilution and focus on growing the business. The result is that Lawtrades has doubled its revenue in just a year. That’s a big deal.
2. Higher pay
The biggest concern for people considering going freelance is money. Will I be able to make a comparable wage? And will I have stable work and benefits like medical coverage and a 401(k)?
Michael Marchand oversees Headspace’s legal department as Director, Legal Affairs. He credits his team’s productivity to ruthless prioritization.
Lawtrades offers a suite of online legal services, including a lawyer matchmaking service and a remote network of lawyers, paralegals, compliance workers and tech support. Their software, called lawOS, transforms the way companies work by connecting the right legal talent with the work at hand, providing visibility into progress and performance across large projects. It also helps clients manage their supply network and cash flow. The platform is free for law firms and corporate counsel to use.
3. More flexibility
Getting to set your own hours and work from wherever you want is an incredible benefit of freelancing. And with lawtrades, you also get the security of knowing that you’re covered in the event of a financial emergency or unexpected family or health issues.
In 2022, Lawtrades has already seen clients from around the world take advantage of its flexible talent pool. Owen Denby, the general counsel of cybersecurity ratings company SecurityScorecard, credits Lawtrades for enabling his small in-house team to quickly find and onboard professionals who are familiar with his industry. He says the service is particularly useful when commercial contracts, securities-related work and data privacy projects are afoot. The company has also turned to Lawtrades for assistance with employee benefits and other employment matters.
5. An opportunity to grow
For large enterprises, we offer a curated marketplace of the same legal talent that small businesses love and an easy-to-use platform to manage their hiring. General Counsels can save more than 40 sourcing hours per position by using Lawtrades.
When she saw the opportunity to grow her skills with a new tech stack and a client that she admired, Sheilla knew she had to take the plunge. She’s since found a home with Lawtrades, and she’s thriving in her role as a full-stack engineer.
Raad Ahmed launched Lawtrades five months ago with a focus on startups. The NYC-based company has a similar business model to UpCounsel, Lawdingo, and Priori Legal (though Lawtrades requires less experience). Unlike these competitors, Lawtrades charges both lawyers and clients.