Law Firms Popping Up In Wal-Marts

Some enterprising law firms have identified an underserved population: those who cannot afford to pay an hourly rate, but need more assistance than DIY outlets like LegalZoom can offer. To serve those customers, at least two law firms have opened stores within Wal-Marts in Atlanta and Missouri. “It’s about being able to offer a service to the community,” says Evan Kaine, whose Kaine Law firm has offices inside three Atlanta-area Wal-Marts. “We have to minimize the stigma of expensive attorneys.” The offices work on a fixed-fee basis and even offer some free services, including a basic last will and testament and notary public services. He says his firm keeps about 20 percent of the business generated at Wal-Marts, and refers the rest to local firms that specialize in other areas of law. In Missouri, The Law Store moved in to Wal-Mart to offer a menu of services, including estate planning, family law, traffic violations and misdemeanors, and worker compensation claims. The Law Store also offers a fixed fee. “We want the consumer to know what they’re purchasing and what their price will be. No hourly billing,” Katrina Richards, head of public relations for The Law Store, told ABA Journal.