[ketzo]

Free market seems disastrous here. Most people hire an attorney… once? twice? in their entire lives, and the consequences of that person being incompetent could be life-altering.

There’s not a quick enough feedback loop here, I think. The vast, vast majority of people would not be “informed buyers,” so to speak.

[wmidwestranger]

Close relative just curled one finger of that monkey's paw in a trust dispute: can confirm, they were not especially happy with either the outcome nor the months of optimism from the lawyer before the final calamity. Even after having heard about it regularly and in-depth and having read the written communications, I have no idea where that lawyer would land on a scale of 1-10. I suppose in this case, nearer the bottom but given it's the most I've ever observed a lawyer, I have zero context or basis for expectations.

[shicholas]

imo if there were substantially more lawyers or startups in this forum can dole out legal advice, there would be substantially more legal interactions.

People should see a lawyer frequently for preventative care (e.g. having someone do a prenup or look over their employment contract) the same way people should see a doctor and do preventative care for their bodies.