State of the San Francisco and Los Angeles, California Legal Markets 2015 / 2016

A recent survey of 15,000 California lawyers uncovered the following statistics concerning the Los Angeles and San Francisco legal markets and the lawyers who work there:

New business growth slowed by 16 percent in Los Angeles and 26 percent in San Francisco; however, growth in Los Angeles (2.7 percent) was still lower than San Francisco (6.7 percent) in 2015;

Los Angeles has one lawyer per 23 businesses, while San Francisco has one lawyer per eight businesses;

Growth in the number of newly barred attorneys in 2015 was comparable in Los Angeles (1.6 percent) and San Francisco (1.4 percent);

The number of newly barred attorneys across all of California in 2015 was the lowest it has been in 10 years;

Hourly billing rates are slightly higher in Los Angeles (on average $302 - $410) than in San Francisco (on average $293 - $408); and

Customer satisfaction with legal services in both Los Angeles (86 percent) and San Francisco (84 percent) is slightly higher than the California average (82 percent).

Source: UpCounsel's 2016 Los Angeles Business Law Report.

DIY Legal Mistakes Haunt Deceased

A recent Forbes article highlights three recent cases where do-it-yourself legal planning and failure to follow through on the details resulted in unintended postmortem consequences:

[L]egal mistakes made during a lifetime can create a mess at death... I think it’s important for people to understand the consequences of inattention to legal matters and of not involving an attorney. “Penny wise and pound foolish” can be a particularly compelling adage when dealing with legal matters.

When NOT to call a lawyer

One lawyer's opinion on when to call a lawyer and when not to.

Counterintuitive Ways to Save Money as Applied to Legal Services

TheStreet.com recently posted an article by Jeffrey Strain entitled 7 Counterintuitive Ways to Improve Finances, some of the advice in which applies, in the opinion of this blog's author, to something few people enjoy, but which can end up saving money in the long run; that is, spending money on legal fees:

Earnest attempts to save money here and there don't always add up to much. When traditional methods fail, it's time to consider a few counterintuitive options.

Spend Money

If you want to get the most for your money, you are going to have to spend. One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are trying to get their finances in order is to stop spending money alogether.

Not all spending is the same. You should limit unnecessary purchases, but spending on essential upkeep, preventive measures and items that will save money in the long run is vital for getting and keeping your finances in order. Scrimp now on items and services that can help prevent larger expenses in the long run--such as routine car maintenance and energy-saving bulbs--and you could pay for it later. . . .

Think estate planning for disability and death, forming a corporation or limited liability company for your business. Having proper Web site terms of use, privacy policies, and vendor and employment contracts in place before you are sued.

Don't Buy What Is Cheapest

"Cheap" rarely means "the best value." To get the most out of your hard-earned money, you must think value rather than price. A car that is inexpensive, but costs a lot to drive and needs frequent repairs has less value than a car with a higher price tag but costs less to run and maintain.

This concept of buying value over price can be applied to anything and will mean that you rarely buy items which are the least expensive. . . .

Think online "incorporation services", paralegal and document preparation services, as well as high-volume or newly-admitted-to-the-bar "discount" lawyers versus established, experienced, and more costly attorneys provided personal service.

See also:

Online incorporation services review;

The Top Ten Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Classby Keith Cameron Smith (2007) (Millionaires think and plan long term; the middle class does not.); and

The Millionaire Next Doorby Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko (1998) (Millionaires think long term; willing to spend a lot on important, long terms, and preventative things and measures, but not much on the instant gratification of new cars, clothes, or jewelry.).