LAW PRODUCT MAKERS BLOG

My Work

 

The focus of my work is helping  citizens access the legal system and prices they can afford through optimization of

AI powered legal tools such as document automation, calclators, and AI - powered decision tools.

My principal idea is to convert "legal services":  into what I call "law products"

A good example is our web site at JusticeXpressFlorida.com, which is published and operated by one of my companies --  JusticeXpress.com.

My definition of a "law product" is a software application that enables a user to solve a legal problem
without the services of an attorney.
 

It is not as easy as it seems. The journey towards making a successful law product is complex, with lots of detours
and failures. I know this because I have been working in this market space for more than 25 years since I launched
the www.mylawyer.com website that offered automated legal forms directly to consumers.

In 2003, I launched one of the first online law firms that offered a highly automated service in family and divorce matters at
www.mdfamilylawyer.com. 

In 2009, I founded DirectLaw, Inc., the first provider of a platform to enable solo and small law firms to offer online legal services.

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One of my goals is to help law firms develop legal products and automated legal services, and to share what I have learned about  how to deliver legal services online for a fixed fee. See generally: JusticeXpressNetwork. 
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About the Blog

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My blog reports on the following topics:

• Law firms are developing automated legal services.

• Law firms are developing legal products.

• Non-law firms that are developing law products.

• Pro bono and Legal Service Program efforts to encourage the development of legal products.

• Regulatory and ethical issues in offering legal products.

• Marketing approaches to providing legal products.

• Tech tools that enable the development of legal products.

• Financing the development of your law product.

Other relevant topics will be addressed as they surface.
If you think this kind of analysis is helpful on your journey, you can subscribe here.

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About Me

​​​​​​​I am a lawyer, frequent speaker on legal technology, blogger, and a developer of "law products" which are distributed through a network of legal information websites. 

I have served as Co-Chair of the ELawyering Task Force of the Law Practice Management Division of the
American Bar Association and also served on the Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services of the ABA.
 

In 2009, the ABA Journal named me as one of  50 Legal Rebels.

In 2010, I received the Louis M. Brown Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Bar Association.in recognition of my work in innovating the delivery of legal services,

In 2013, I was Named a FastCase50 Winner

Also, in 2013- I received the ABA James I Keane Memorial Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Legal Services.

I have been involved in developing innovative legal services delivery systems for many years,
First as part of the initial working group that created the National Legal Services Program, and then later as Director of the Center for Legal Studies at Antioch Law School in Washington, D.C.,
the nation's first clinical law school, and later President and Dean of the Philadelphia Institute for Paralegal Training,
The nation's first paralegal school.

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I am a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management.

I was the founder of the People's Law Library of Maryland, one of the first state-wide legal information websites,
presently operated by the Maryland Court System. Last year, the People's Law Library had over 1,000,000 visitors.

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I served on the Board of Directors of ResponsiveLaw, Inc., the consumer's voice in the legal system for many years.

 

Law Product Ventures:

Founder and CEO, JusticeXpress, Inc., a Public Benefit Corporation in 2026.

Founder and CEO, MyLawyer.com, (1999 - 2004).

Founder and CEO, SmartLegal Forms, Inc. (2004 - 2017).

Founder and CEO, DirectLaw, Inc. (2009 - 2017).

Advisor and Shareholder, FedArb, Inc. (2000 - present ).

Advisor and Shareholder, OneDigitalTrust, Inc. (2019 - present).

Founder and CEO, LawMediaLabs, Inc. (1970 - present).

I have taught at the University of Maryland School of Law, the District of Columbia School of Law, Rutgers School of Law, courses
in Computers and the Law and Law Practice Management.

I am a graduate of Columbia University School of Law (J.D.), the University of Pennsylvania (M.S.), and Lehigh University (B.A.).

I am a member of the Maryland Bar,  the American Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association.