LegalZoom/RocketLawyer or Local Lawyer? – A biased perspective
A lot of people are using online document preparation services, like RocketLawyer.com and LegalZoom.com (the “Sites”), in lieu of an attorney. These services can help get your business started, set you up with all types of personal or businesses documents and contracts, and even connect you with an attorney at a pre-determined rate. So what’s the right move, DIY or a Lawyer?
 With respect to the Sites, let’s get a few things out of the way. The Sites are not law firms, they offer only general information about the law and are not giving you legal advice. Instead, you are representing yourself in any legal matter you take on through the Site’s legal document service. If you have an important document drawn up and there’s some sort of issue – that’s on you. You will end up hiring a local lawyer to fix the problem.
 For matters like forming a company, I suspect most people's concerns about the cost of hiring an attorney are misplaced. In most places, the cost difference is minimal AND you are getting legal advice (as opposed to a form-filling service.) If you have, or can find, the right attorney, the task can be completed competently at a very reasonable price. As with anything, you should ask about the fees up front so there’s no surprises. Don’t forget, you can shop around.
 The “kicker,” for me, on whether or not to use an attorney for company formations: the right one will have a good understanding of the different corporate structures you have to choose from. Not only will this ensure that your personal assets are protected, you will, together, be able to determine the best taxable situation for you and your business (and what your tax duties are).
 For any type of business contract or personal document, my opinion is, quite obviously, biased. Most situations are particular, and a generic template just won’t cut it. The Sites even tell you in their respective Terms and Conditions: “the law is a personal matter, and no general information or legal tool that {the Sites} provide can fit every circumstance. If you need legal advice for your specific problem, or if your specific problem is too complex to be addressed by our tools, you should consult a licensed attorney in your area.” Laws are also different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and subject to interpretation by different courts. An attorney should know these intricacies and apply them to your situation.
 The Sites will provide you with, what they call, “customized” agreements, but, I can assure you, they are not personalized. Without sitting down with an attorney and discussing all of your issues, you will never get the document that bests suits your needs, or the needs of your business.
 So, if you’re choosing between doing it yourself and hiring a local lawyer, here’s my answer: if you don't know enough to do it yourself, you don't know enough to use the Sites. The other advantage to using a local lawyer is a big one: now you have established relationship. When the situation arises where you need legal services again, you already know whom to call!