To ensure you offer fair and reasonable prices for your unbundled legal services, review offers from other lawyers in your geographic market and area of practice. When you see how others praise similar services, you can set an overall price range for yours. The unbundled model also offers lawyers a new service delivery model – one that offers lawyers the opportunity to build a new client base. In particular, an unbundled model attracts litigants who otherwise would not (and would not) retain a lawyer. Unbundling also allows lawyers to remain competitive in an evolving legal services marketplace while meeting the changing needs of court users. Legal fees are costly for both individuals and many small businesses. By providing limited portions of legal services on a pay-as-you-go basis, businesses and individuals who otherwise would not be able to hire a lawyer now have an affordable option. The combination of money saved and legal advice can ease a lot of stress and help individuals and businesses succeed. State bars and courts are divided on the ethics of unbundling when it comes to legal shadowwriting. Some jurisdictions have ruled that shadowwriting by lawyers is prohibited, saying that not disclosing their support to an unrepresented client would be misleading to the court and its opponent in the lawsuit.
Others reject legal shadowwriting because they believe it would allow a lawyer to evade responsibility for a frivolous lawsuit brought by their client. [23] Unbundling can benefit lawyers, their clients and the courts. Unbundling gives lawyers the opportunity to attract clients who would otherwise represent themselves; Lawyers reach an untapped market and generate additional revenue. Unbundled legal services increase the number of collectibles and reduce the risk of misconduct. Clients benefit from the legal expertise of lawyers and pay only for the services they need most. Courts will also benefit from unbundling: unbundling clients are often better prepared for the court, saving time and staff resources than those who represent themselves without the assistance of a lawyer. Unbundled legal services are used to reduce costs for the client by reducing the amount of time a lawyer spends on a legal matter – and therefore the amount charged by the lawyer. [4] A study by the American Bar Association estimates that “fewer than three in ten legal problems are brought to the court system by low-income households, and only four in ten for middle-income households.” [5] According to the New York State Bar Association, “[u]nbundling is seen as a way to improve legal access for middle-income consumers.” Customers find unbundling attractive because it saves them money and gives them more control over strategic processes and decisions. [6] Some jurisdictions have called for the establishment of clinics in law schools to teach students unbundled legal services in a practical setting and to encourage future lawyers to use the practice. [20] As a lawyer, adding limited scope services can open up a new client market for your firm. This applies to both business and individual customers, including low- and middle-income households. In addition to improving access to legal services, you will grow your business, generate new forms of revenue, and provide better service to your clients, which could commit you to full representation.
Unbundling refers to the practice of dividing legal representation into separate and distinct tasks. Think of unbundling as an à la carte option for legal services, where a lawyer can only handle certain parts instead of handling an entire case from start to finish. For example, a lawyer may provide legal advice and prepare briefs while a client handles all other duties of the case, including filing court documents and appearing at hearings. Unbundling is also known as “limited representation,” “limited legal assistance,” “limited supportive representation,” and “discrete representation of tasks.” The terms are often used interchangeably, but they all refer to the same practice. It is sometimes referred to as “limited representation,” but it misses the point: it is the scope of representation that is limited, not legal assistance. Limited representation can be considered one of the highest vocations of the legal profession. By offering unbundled legal services, lawyers can provide closer support that requires fewer billable hours and free up more time to help more clients. The establishment of this system of alternative services will help more people to access justice.
There are many people who divorce and separate, or who engage in a series of civil lawsuits who do not have the financial resources to hire a lawyer. The results of the IAALS “Cases Without Counsel” study and research conducted by others suggest that the results may be influenced if litigants are not represented. The unbundled legal services model offers litigants the option of hiring counsel only for certain parts of the process, perhaps only for the most difficult and confusing parts. This arrangement provides litigants with access to affordable legal services and cost certainty. (Many of these articles are older articles and focus on providing limited legal services offline, not online, but are helpful in understanding the concept.) Unbundled legal services (also known as limited scope legal services) are tailored to your needs and budget. Lawyers in this program will review your legal problem and work with you to design a plan that works for you. They can give you advice, help you draft court documents, or go to court, each with their own upfront costs. Since you decide what you will do and what the lawyer will do, you can spend as much or as little time working with your lawyer as necessary. This will save you money and only get the legal assistance you need.
By offering services to both markets, specialty lawyers can serve more clients, provide better service and attract new types of clients. All of this is possible because unbundled legal services are more affordable and can help you grow and scale your business, whether it`s litigation or transactions.