How We Help & FAQ

Thanks for your interest in LegalWise. Although we are not a law firm, you can use our directory to connect with an attorney who may be able to help you with your needs. Have questions? Read on to learn more.

FAQs

  • No. LegalWise is an educational nonprofit partnered with Mitchell Hamline School of Law that supports new MHSL lawyers who agree to provide lower-cost legal services to underserved communities through their solo and small practices. LegalWise does not employ any lawyers to practice law and does not provide any legal services directly to clients. LegalWise advocates run their own law practices and provide services directly to their clients.

  • Our attorney-advocates run the gamut from just starting out to having several years of practice under their belts. All of our attorney-advocates have received the same rigorous, practice-based legal education at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and have undergone a screening process through LegalWise. LegalWise provides a myriad of resources, including mentoring, to help its attorney-advocates open and run successful community-based practices.

  • No. Our attorney-advocates provide accessible legal services to underserved communities, including flat fees, sliding-scale fees, and unbundled services.

    What is an underserved community?

    Underserved communities, sometimes referred to as “legal deserts,” are those where legal services are not accessible to the people in that community. This may be due to financial constraints, lack of legal representation available in a particular region, or limited legal representation available in a certain practice area to certain groups of people.

    What does “sliding scale” mean?

    Sliding scale means that a lawyer’s hourly rate depends on the client’s income. Clients are asked to provide information about their income, and a lawyer will offer an hourly fee based on that income.

    What are “unbundled” legal services?

    “Unbundled” legal services, or limited-scope representation, allow clients to hire a LegalWise attorney to provide specific services “a la carte” rather than engaging in full representation. Examples of unbundled services might include drafting a legal document, reviewing a legal document, or coaching someone to represent themselves in court. Unbundled services give clients more control over and more responsibility for their own legal matters. Bottom line: Clients who obtain unbundled legal services pay less, but must do more of the work themselves.

  • The LegalWise attorney network is made up of Mitchell Hamline School of Law graduates around the country and is growing nationwide. Please check our attorney listings to see if there is a LegalWise attorney-advocate in your community.

  • If you are unable to pay for legal services and you live in Minnesota, contact LawhelpMN.org, or search for free legal services in your community to help you identify legal services nonprofits that offer those services in your area.