I started law school believing that our legal system is the best forum available to address systemic power imbalances and to pursue truth, fairness, justice, and accountability. I was drawn to an orderly process that applies equally. An even playing field. A fair opportunity to be heard.
I quickly learned that the legal system is complex and difficult to navigate without training and experience. Using the legal system is not intuitive and most people need professional guidance, even for routine legal issues. Legal fees are expensive and unpredictable, creating an unfair advantage for those who can afford them and a barrier to justice for everyone else.
Regrettably, the legal services industry has not done a very good job meeting the growing need for lower-cost legal services. The billable hour and other structural dysfunctions have kept fees high and unpredictable, and services inaccessible to anyone living outside a major city. We are living through an access to justice crisis that demands an innovative, market-based solution.
In early 2020 we all flocked to online services out of necessity, and on the way, we discovered that some services are more convenient and accessible online than they were in-person. I saw an opportunity to create a new business model that would leverage technology to reduce overhead, lower costs, and make accessing legal advice easier and more affordable than ever before.
Butterfly Legal was born.