http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/ Above the Law: A Legal Web Site – News, Commentary, and Opinions on Law Firms, Lawyers, Law School, Law Suits, Judges and Courts Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:42:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178694 guest Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:38:19 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178694 tough call here. on the one hand, the business requires terrible hours, is less profitable than a low-end Subway, and is probably illegal in 49 states. on the other hand, she's got a first-class rack and is probably an animal in the sack. I could go either way. tough call here. on the one hand, the business requires terrible hours, is less profitable than a low-end Subway, and is probably illegal in 49 states. on the other hand, she’s got a first-class rack and is probably an animal in the sack. I could go either way.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178693 guest Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:14:04 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178693 tough call here. on the one hand, the business requires terrible hours, is less profitable than a low-end Subway, and is probably illegal in 49 states. on the other hand, she's got a first-class rack and is probably an animal in the sack. I could go either way. tough call here. on the one hand, the business requires terrible hours, is less profitable than a low-end Subway, and is probably illegal in 49 states. on the other hand, she’s got a first-class rack and is probably an animal in the sack. I could go either way.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178692 guest Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:01:42 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178692 i could go either way on this one. on the one hand, the business requires long hours, is less profitable than a low-end Subway, and is probably illegal. on the other hand, she's got a nice rack and is probably an animal in the sack. tough call. i could go either way on this one. on the one hand, the business requires long hours, is less profitable than a low-end Subway, and is probably illegal. on the other hand, she’s got a nice rack and is probably an animal in the sack. tough call.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178691 guest Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:07:14 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178691 OMG 27, 28 and 29 NAILED it. Also, pay careful attention to 31, 32 and 33. OMG 27, 28 and 29 NAILED it. Also, pay careful attention to 31, 32 and 33.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178690 guest Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:45:54 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178690 I agree with 33. I agree with 33.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178689 guest Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:04:26 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178689 i have to agree with 32 on this. i have to agree with 32 on this.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178688 guest Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:08:33 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178688 very good point 31. very good point 31.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178687 guest Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:57:16 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178687 Not an expert in legal ethics, but doesn't giving 15% equity to the Sharks (all non-lawyers) raise some red flags?! Rule 1-310 A member shall not form a partnership with a person who is not a lawyer if any of the activities of that partnership consist of the practice of law. Not an expert in legal ethics, but doesn’t giving 15% equity to the Sharks (all non-lawyers) raise some red flags?!
Rule 1-310
A member shall not form a partnership with a person who is not a lawyer if any of the activities of that partnership consist of the practice of law.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178686 guest Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:56:30 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178686 Thank you for posting this story. It's an interesting concept. But the lawyer and his wife did a terrible job in their presentation. They didn't explain the overall idea fully - they didn't explain the financial side of it until pressed by the VC's. They were both were standoffish and argumentative, instead of helping facilitate the discussion with the the VC's. They don;t realize the way to convince somebody is not to disagree and argue with them, but rather to show how their concerns can be solved. The husband wasn't very articulate or quick on his feet. The wife was better at articulating but was more disagreeable. These people don't seem like they would make very good lawyers or legal assistants. Do they argue with their clients? Do they argue with the judge? The best way to provide affordable legal services is to try to resolve disagreements with opposing parties without prolonged litigation and possibly without ever going to court. They don't seem like they would be very good at that. The concept of providing legal services in a coffee shop sounds like it works for them and their clients, but it doesn't sound like there is much to franchise. The business is the people who run it,there is no great trademark or proprietary system to license. Someone else can open their own law and coffee shop without purchasing a franchise from these people. Also, innovation and law don't always mix well. Operations like this could have problems if non-lawyers have an equity stake in the business. You mentioned confidentiality problems as well. For some non-adversarial mundane legal matters, perhaps that is not that big of an issue. For small-money disputes it may be more helpful to get both sides on the same page to work things out, rather than trying to outmaneuver the opponent in litigation. But for other matters, I see your point that the open-air coffee shop setting would seem problematic. Thank you for posting this story. It’s an interesting concept. But the lawyer and his wife did a terrible job in their presentation. They didn’t explain the overall idea fully – they didn’t explain the financial side of it until pressed by the VC’s. They were both were standoffish and argumentative, instead of helping facilitate the discussion with the the VC’s. They don;t realize the way to convince somebody is not to disagree and argue with them, but rather to show how their concerns can be solved.
The husband wasn’t very articulate or quick on his feet. The wife was better at articulating but was more disagreeable. These people don’t seem like they would make very good lawyers or legal assistants. Do they argue with their clients? Do they argue with the judge? The best way to provide affordable legal services is to try to resolve disagreements with opposing parties without prolonged litigation and possibly without ever going to court. They don’t seem like they would be very good at that.
The concept of providing legal services in a coffee shop sounds like it works for them and their clients, but it doesn’t sound like there is much to franchise. The business is the people who run it,there is no great trademark or proprietary system to license. Someone else can open their own law and coffee shop without purchasing a franchise from these people.
Also, innovation and law don’t always mix well. Operations like this could have problems if non-lawyers have an equity stake in the business. You mentioned confidentiality problems as well. For some non-adversarial mundane legal matters, perhaps that is not that big of an issue. For small-money disputes it may be more helpful to get both sides on the same page to work things out, rather than trying to outmaneuver the opponent in litigation. But for other matters, I see your point that the open-air coffee shop setting would seem problematic.

]]> http://abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/comment-page-1/#comment-178685 guest Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:46:40 +0000 http://wp.abovethelaw.com/2010/02/loyola-l-a-law-grad-gets-savaged-in-the-shark-tank/#comment-178685 Thank you for posting this story. It's an interesting concept. But the lawyer and his wife did a terrible job in their presentation. They didn't explain the overall idea fully - they didn't explain the financial side of it until pressed by the VC's. They were both were standoffish and argumentative, instead of helping facilitate the discussion with the the VC's. They don;t realize the way to convince somebody is not to disagree and argue with them, but rather to show how their concerns can be solved. The husband wasn't very articulate or quick on his feet. The wife was better at articulating but was more disagreeable. These people don't seem like they would make very good lawyers or legal assistants. Do they argue with their clients? Do they argue with the judge? The best way to provide affordable legal services is to try to resolve disagreements with opposing parties without prolonged litigation and possibly without ever going to court. They don't seem like they would be very good at that. The concept of providing legal services in a coffee shop sounds like it works for them and their clients, but it doesn't sound like there is much to franchise. The business is the people who run it,there is no great trademark or proprietary system to license. Someone else can open their own law and coffee shop without purchasing a franchise from these people. Also, innovation and law don't always mix well. Operations like this could have problems if non-lawyers have an equity stake in the business. You mentioned confidentiality problems as well. For some non-adversarial mundane legal matters, perhaps that is not that big of an issue. For small-money disputes it may be more helpful to get both sides on the same page to work things out, rather than trying to outmaneuver the opponent in litigation. But for other matters, I see your point that the open-air coffee shop setting would seem problematic. Thank you for posting this story. It’s an interesting concept. But the lawyer and his wife did a terrible job in their presentation. They didn’t explain the overall idea fully – they didn’t explain the financial side of it until pressed by the VC’s. They were both were standoffish and argumentative, instead of helping facilitate the discussion with the the VC’s. They don;t realize the way to convince somebody is not to disagree and argue with them, but rather to show how their concerns can be solved.
The husband wasn’t very articulate or quick on his feet. The wife was better at articulating but was more disagreeable. These people don’t seem like they would make very good lawyers or legal assistants. Do they argue with their clients? Do they argue with the judge? The best way to provide affordable legal services is to try to resolve disagreements with opposing parties without prolonged litigation and possibly without ever going to court. They don’t seem like they would be very good at that.
The concept of providing legal services in a coffee shop sounds like it works for them and their clients, but it doesn’t sound like there is much to franchise. The business is the people who run it,there is no great trademark or proprietary system to license. Someone else can open their own law and coffee shop without purchasing a franchise from these people.
Also, innovation and law don’t always mix well. Operations like this could have problems if non-lawyers have an equity stake in the business. You mentioned confidentiality problems as well. For some non-adversarial mundane legal matters, perhaps that is not that big of an issue. For small-money disputes it may be more helpful to get both sides on the same page to work things out, rather than trying to outmaneuver the opponent in litigation. But for other matters, I see your point that the open-air coffee shop setting would seem problematic.

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