Ever since the pandemic, we’ve all been on a DIY kick.

Now that we have the time and resources to access different information, it’s like whatever we need to know is just a few clicks away.

And that’s great, right? Especially when it comes to legal services.

I mean, how many people didn’t receive the legal outcome they wanted because they couldn’t afford decent legal help?

Thanks to legal tech, the playing field is even. You don’t NEED to contact a lawyer, right?

Well, yes and no.

Just like with everything else in law, it depends. There are legal situations where lawyers are necessary, and then there are some that just need legal tech to do the trick.

How can you tell when to hire a lawyer and when to use legal tech? Let’s find out.

Assess Your Legal Situation

Finding the best solution for your legal problem starts with assessing your situation.

What specifically do you need? Does your legal problem require you to draft a document? Are you in a dispute with someone and need someone to represent you?

Do you want to file for divorce or sue someone?

Answering these questions will determine the best solution for you. If you need some basic legal questions answered or legal documents prepared, your best bet would be to use legal tech.

But if your legal situation is more complex and you need to defend your rights or need legal representation, you may want to consult with a lawyer.

What Legal Tech Can Do

Why do you not want to rely on legal tech for legal advice or legal representation?

Well, it’s because the information presented by a legal tech tool can’t provide legal advice.

Think about the different types of legal tech:

• LegalZoom
• LexisNexis
• Clio
• Lexion
• Casetext.

Even AI chatbots and website FAQ pages can be considered legal tech.

While these tools are helpful, they’re not capable of providing adequate legal advice. Attorneys are the only legal professionals who can offer legal advice.

Mistaking information from legal tech tools as legal advice can be costly. You could make the wrong decision based on misinformation that doesn’t apply to your situation.

That’s why it’s best to use legal tech for general basic information or automated tasks.

What Lawyers Can Do

Lawyers, on the other hand, can provide unique perspectives to legal problems.

Let’s be honest. Everyone’s legal issues are not the same.

Some legal cases are complex and can’t be resolved through basic legal knowledge. Think of child custody cases, criminal cases, and estate planning.

These are the types of cases that can take a turn at any moment. With these types of cases, personalized legal representation is required.

Hiring a lawyer is recommended in cases where your rights are in jeopardy, or you are in a dispute with another party.

Unlike legal tech, lawyers can:

• Provide context to complex laws.
• Tailor arguments to human emotions.
• Represent clients in court.
• Offer personalized legal services to clients.
• Use negotiation tactics to settle disputes in and out of court.

How Can I Decide Between a Lawyer and Legal Tech?

What’s the best way to decide between hiring a lawyer or using legal tech for your legal problems?

One of the ways is to think about these four questions:

• Is my case high-risk or high value?
• Is there a chance of a conflict or dispute?
• Do I understand what’s at stake legally or financially?
• Can I afford to get it wrong?

If your legal problem involves high stakes (serious legal consequences, financial losses, etc.) or can result in a legal dispute, you may want to consult with a lawyer.

What types of cases would benefit from seeking a lawyer?

• Negotiating complex vendor deals.
• Settling workplace violation lawsuits.
• Handling complex mergers and acquisitions.
• Resolving complex estate planning issues.
• Settling a personal injury lawsuit.

These are the types of cases where legal representation may be needed to resolve legal disputes and avoid serious legal consequences.

But if the risks involved in your case are low and you want to save time and money, you may want to take advantage of legal tech tools.

These are the tools that can assist with easy document preparation and assisting with basic legal research.

What are some situations where legal tech could be the best solution?

• Filing business formation paperwork.
• Drafting independent contractor agreements.
• Drafting a simple will.
• Filing a non-disclosure agreement.
• Drafting a demand letter.

These are tasks that, unlike litigation, don’t require complex legal judgment.

Can I Use Both?

There are certain legal problems where both the use of legal tech and a lawyer’s judgment are recommended.

Let’s say that you are a legal tech startup and want to draft a non-compete agreement for employees. As you start drafting, there are certain clauses that you don’t understand.

In these circumstances, you can use tools like Rocket Lawyer or Creators Legal to help you get started. These subscription legal services give you the best of both worlds.

They provide different document templates to help you get started with the drafting process. If there are any clauses you want clarification on, these tools can also help you gain access to lawyers at your convenience.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to hiring a lawyer or using legal tech, both solutions have their own pros and cons.

Hiring a lawyer may be expensive and time-consuming, but it can give you legal protection and a personalized strategy for your legal problem.

While legal tech is cost-effective and convenient, it’s also limited. It can’t provide the legal guidance that a lawyer can.

Remember, when your case is low-risk and bears no serious consequence, using legal tech may be the best solution.

But if your case requires legal representation or your rights must be protected, you may want to hire a lawyer.

What are your thoughts on using a legal tech or hiring a lawyer? Share in the comments section below.