Self-Help Legal Information Services: Business Models and Market Trends

The internet is bringing about changes in the way individuals and small businesses approach legal issues. The widespread acceptance of the internet as a source of legal information and transactions for those on limited budgets has raised expectations that more and more legal information and services can be had online. This report examines 34 players that are attempting to serve consumers and small businesses with legal information and services, and some of the trends and challenges they face. It describes a disruption narrative that hasn’t fully played out yet and whose outcome is quite uncertain. The report includes:
- An overview of the consumer market for legal services, including market definition and types of offerings;
- Outsell’s estimated size, share and forecast for the legal self-help market;
- Profiles of six key providers of self-help legal information services;
- A table with brief descriptions, services offered, business models, and website links for 34 self-help legal information players;
- Market dynamics and drivers;
- Essential actions for publishers and information providers to succeed in this emerging market.