But it might be the start of a trend. In its usual trailblazing style, and with that keen business acumen the company regularly displays, Google has forayed into the virtual legal sector to the tune of $18.5 million.
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Headed by August Capital, Google Ventures and Investor Growth Capital (IGC) announced in recent days its nearly $19 million investment in the virtual legal services provider, Rocket Lawyer. The goal of the company, founded in August of 2008, is to make ''legal wellness more accessible and affordable for everyone,'' per the website.
According to the August 11th forbes.com article, ''Google Jumps Into Online-Law Business With Rocket Lawyer'', founder Charley Moore said in an interview with article author Daniel Fisher that ''the firm has 70,000 users a day and has doubled revenue for four years straight to more than $10 million this year.''
Both individuals and businesses can try Rocket Lawyer's services for free. As well, the company offers a Basic and Pro Legal plan, for a monthly fee. Per the company's website, ''Over 15 million individuals and businesses use Rocket Lawyer to simplify their legal lives.''
Per the forbes.com article, Rocket Lawyer is different from LegalZoom, as it affiliates itself with actual attorneys who are able to provide counsel on short notice. Moore was quoted as saying: ''Rocket Lawyer gives consumers technology to do things themselves with no human intervention at all. When they do need help, and they do, they can consult with a lawyer.''
Legal documents are one of the most highly searched categories on the internet, per the forbes.com article. Capitalizing on this, and the multi-billion dollar legal industry, Rocket Lawyer offers legal forms in areas ranging from estate planning, divorce, personal finance, credit and employment, to business contracts, articles of incorporation and patents. In addition, members can tap into a network of thousands of lawyers across the country for assistance with reviewing documents, or find an attorney locally.
David Hornik, general partner at August Capital, was quoted in the August 11th vator.tv.com article, ''Rocket Lawyer raises $18.5M for legal assistance'' as saying: ''As a former attorney and venture capitalist, the value proposition for small business owners and individuals is truly outstanding and very disruptive, as Rocket Lawyer drives down costs to benefit both the consumer and the local attorney.''
Charley Moore is the Founder and Chairman of Rocket Lawyer Incorporated. He is an expert in Internet corporate partner development, with over fifteen years of experience advising companies in all stages of growth. Rocket Lawyer corporate partners include LexisNexis, H&R Block, TransUnion, and Avanquest Software.
Rocket Lawyer heavy hitters include former LinkedIn Chief Executive Dan Nye, the company's President and CEO, and Google's top attorney, David Drummond, who serves on the company's board of directors.
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Per the forbes.com article, Moore was quoted as saying that Google is interested in anything that ''changes the world in a big way.'' With Google's endorsement firmly in place, will it perhaps be only a matter of time before other venture capitalists clamor around the virtual legal services concept, and look-alikes begin to emerge?
