LegalMatch
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services, Online marketplace |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Anna Ostrovsky, Dmitri Shubov |
| Headquarters | Reno, Nevada , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Online legal matching platform, Online Law Library, Law Blog |
LegalMatch is a privately owned business based in Reno, Nevada, United States. It provides an online legal matching platform that allows individuals to submit their legal matters and obtain responses featuring ratings and fee estimates from interested lawyers. This service is offered at no cost to clients, while attorneys pay fees to access the leads generated. LegalMatch also operates offices located in Las Vegas, Nevada and Austin, Texas.
History
Established in 1999 by Anna Ostrovsky and Dmitri Shubov, LegalMatch launched its online platform in 2000 from San Francisco, California. The website saw significant expansion, with user visits growing by 300% during its initial year. In 2013, the company broadened its footprint by opening an additional office in Reno, Nevada.
Services
Clients fill out a detailed form about their legal situation on LegalMatch’s website. The system then connects them with licensed attorneys who specialize in the relevant area of law, with limits set on the number of lawyers per practice field and region. After retaining an attorney, clients have the option to leave feedback on the lawyer’s profile. Beyond matching services, LegalMatch provides educational materials through its Online Law Library and Law Blog.
Ethics rules
A ruling by a California appeals court determined that any provider offering attorney leads "directing a potential client to an attorney," including LegalMatch, qualifies as a lawyer referral service under professional ethics standards. In September 2020, LegalMatch California, a subsidiary, received certification as a California State Bar Certified Referral Service and is recognized as an authorized lawyer referral service throughout all 58 counties in California.