Laymans vs LegalZoom & Avvo
LegalZoom and Avvo represent two of the oldest names in online legal services. LegalZoom (founded 2001) pioneered DIY legal documents for business formation, while Avvo (founded 2006) built the largest lawyer directory in the US. Both now operate under the Internet Brands umbrella alongside Martindale-Hubbell and Nolo.
Laymans takes a different approach: rather than focusing on business transactions or attorney marketing, it provides comprehensive support for people navigating legal challenges - with AI assistance, educational resources, and tools for collective action.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Laymans | LegalZoom | Avvo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Access to justice | Business formation | Lawyer directory |
| Target User | Pro se litigants, small businesses, legal professionals | Entrepreneurs, small businesses | People seeking attorneys |
| AI Assistant | Leyla (document drafting, legal guidance) | No | No |
| Document Templates | 600+ curated templates | 250+ (business-focused) | Limited Q&A only |
| Attorney Access | Unbundled services marketplace | Add-on consultations ($49/mo) | Directory + Avvo Advisor |
| Education | Free 4MAT seminars | Blog content | Q&A forum |
| Litigation Support | Full case workflow | No | No |
| Collective Action | Movements, Campaigns, Case Funds | No | No |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Per-service ($0-$299+) | Free directory, paid leads |
What is LegalZoom?
LegalZoom is an online legal technology company founded in 2001, best known for business formation services. They've helped form over 4 million businesses and offer services including LLC formation, trademark registration, wills, and business compliance.
Current pricing structure:
- Basic LLC Package: $0 + state fees (paperwork only)
- Pro Package: $249 + state fees (includes operating agreement, EIN assistance)
- Premium Package: $299 + state fees (adds attorney consultation trial)
- Registered Agent: $249/year
- Individual Documents: $59/document from 250+ templates
LegalZoom excels at standardized business transactions - forming an LLC, filing a trademark, creating a basic will. Their questionnaire-based approach works well when you need a common document and want someone else to handle the filing.
Limitations: LegalZoom isn't designed for disputes, litigation, or complex legal situations. If you're facing a landlord, dealing with an employment issue, or need to sue someone, LegalZoom doesn't have the tools for that.
What is Avvo?
Avvo launched in 2006 as a lawyer rating and directory service, becoming the largest legal directory in the US with over 1 million attorney listings and 100+ million annual visits.
In 2018, Avvo was acquired by Internet Brands for an undisclosed sum (they were valued at ~$650 million in 2015). The legal division was renamed Martindale-Avvo, combining Avvo with Martindale-Hubbell, Nolo, and other properties.
What Avvo offers:
- Free lawyer directory with ratings and reviews
- Q&A forum where attorneys answer questions
- Avvo Advisor (paid consultations)
- Lead generation for attorneys
Post-acquisition reality: Avvo's founder cited Google's aggressive expansion into local search as a factor in selling. Under Internet Brands, Avvo has become primarily a lead-generation platform for attorneys rather than a consumer-first service. Some users report diminishing value as the platform prioritizes paid attorney placements.
What is Laymans?
Laymans is a B2B2C legal platform designed for people in the "legal aid gap" - those who don't qualify for free legal services but can't afford traditional attorney representation.
Core features:
- Leyla AI: An AI assistant that helps draft legal documents, explains legal concepts, and guides you through procedures
- 600+ Contract Templates: Curated collection covering business, personal, and litigation needs
- Free Educational Seminars: Structured courses using the 4MAT learning system
- Casefiles: Organize evidence, documents, and case information
- Unbundled Legal Services: Connect with attorneys for specific tasks at transparent prices
- Movements: Organize collective action around shared legal issues
- Campaigns: Crowdfund litigation costs
- Case Funds: Access litigation financing
Key Differences
Target Audience
| Platform | Primary Users |
|---|---|
| LegalZoom | Entrepreneurs forming businesses, people needing standard documents |
| Avvo | People searching for an attorney to hire |
| Laymans | Pro se litigants, people with ongoing legal disputes, those needing affordable unbundled services |
When You Have a Dispute
This is the critical distinction. LegalZoom and Avvo were built for transactions (forming a business) and connections (finding a lawyer). Neither provides tools for people actively dealing with legal problems.
Laymans was built for people in conflict:
- Tenant facing eviction while pursuing harassment claims
- Employee dealing with wage theft
- Consumer fighting a predatory contract
- Anyone needing to organize collective action
AI and Technology
| Capability | Laymans | LegalZoom | Avvo |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI document drafting | Yes (Leyla) | No | No |
| AI legal guidance | Yes | No | No |
| Case management | Yes (Casefiles) | No | No |
| Video conferencing | Built-in | No | No |
Pricing Philosophy
- LegalZoom: Pay per service, with upsells at every step
- Avvo: Free for consumers (attorneys pay for leads)
- Laymans: Freemium model - core tools free, premium features for power users
Collective Features
Only Laymans offers:
- Movements: Organize people with shared legal grievances
- Campaigns: Crowdfund legal actions
- Case Funds: Access litigation financing
When to Use LegalZoom
- Forming an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit
- Filing a trademark application
- Creating a basic will or living trust
- Standard business documents where you want someone else to handle filing
- You need something done quickly and have budget for add-ons
When to Use Avvo
- Searching for an attorney in your area
- Reading reviews of specific lawyers
- Quick free Q&A from attorneys (understand you may get sales pitches)
- You've decided you need full representation and want to comparison shop
When to Use Laymans
- You're representing yourself (pro se) in a legal matter
- You can't afford full attorney representation but need help
- You want to learn about your legal rights through structured education
- You need specific documents drafted with AI assistance
- You want unbundled services (pay an attorney for specific tasks only)
- You're organizing with others around a shared legal issue
- You need to crowdfund or finance litigation
Can They Work Together?
Yes, they serve different stages of legal needs:
- Research phase: Use Avvo's Q&A to understand if you need a lawyer
- Business formation: Use LegalZoom if you're starting a business
- Ongoing legal support: Use Laymans for disputes, case management, AI assistance, and unbundled services
- Full representation: Use Avvo to find an attorney if you decide you need one
The Bottom Line
LegalZoom is a document assembly and filing service - excellent for standardized business transactions, but not designed for disputes or ongoing legal challenges.
Avvo is a lawyer directory - useful for finding and vetting attorneys, but primarily serves as a marketing platform for lawyers rather than a tool for consumers.
Laymans is a legal empowerment platform - designed specifically for people navigating legal challenges who need AI assistance, education, case management, and access to affordable unbundled services.
If you're forming an LLC, LegalZoom does that well. If you're hiring a lawyer, Avvo helps you search. If you're dealing with an actual legal problem and need tools to help you through it, Laymans was built for that.