LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY INTRODUCES LEGAL GENIE, AN AFFORDABLE SOLUTION FOR MIDDLE-INCOME PEOPLE, WHICH COMBINES DO-IT-YOURSELF ASSISTANCE WITH THE SERVICES OF AN ATTORNEY

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Family Law Services Now Available on www.LegalGenie.com

Santa Ana, CA (February 17, 2011) - Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC), a non-profit organization founded in 1958, introduces Legal Genie, a web-based program which combines the power of self-help technology with the professional services of an attorney for one affordable price.

Legal Genie provides middle-income people - those who do not qualify for legal aid but cannot afford to pay for full attorney representation - with an affordable online solution for Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy. Legal Genie can also help with divorce, child custody, child support, and other issues. Legal Genie is simple to use: answer straightforward questions and then Legal Genie places the answers in the forms.

However, Legal Genie is unique because unlike other document preparation services, Legal Genie connects people with an attorney who provides document review, legal advice, guidance, and other "undbundled" or limited legal services. With forms completed, Legal Genie connects an individual to a local licensed attorney with expertise in bankruptcy or family law. The attorneys work in the private sector and are screened through LASOC's California State Bar-certified Lawyer Referral Service (LRS).

Those who use Legal Genie gain the advantage of attorney consultation at one price they can afford. There are no hidden costs. Because a licensed attorney reviews the forms and provides timely feedback, people will avoid common mistakes that unnecessarily delay bankruptcy and family law cases, and all of this is available in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.

For Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the attorney provides a three-step review which involves corrections and suggestions sent via e-mail, an initial telephone consultation of up to one hour and a final telephone consultation of up to 30 minutes. Depending on the package or individual form used on Legal Genie, a person who uses the family law services receives between one to three telephone consultations with an attorney. If an individual needs further assistance or wants attorney representation in court, he or she can choose to retain the private attorney.

Legal Genie's services start at just $199. For a limited time only, Legal Genie for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is available for $599 (a savings of $200). Court filing fees not included in the price. To use Legal Genie, call (714) 489-2719 or log on to www.LegalGenie.com.

About Legal Aid Society of Orange County

Founded in 1958 by the Orange County Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide civil legal services to low-income individuals and seniors and to promote equal access to the justice system through advocacy, legal counseling, innovative self-help services, in-depth legal representation, economic development and community education.

LASOC developed Legal Genie for middle-income individuals - those who do not qualify for legal aid but cannot afford to pay for full attorney representation - as a practical solution for common legal problems. Each year, LASOC receives more than 30,000 calls from individuals seeking legal assistance, but roughly half are turned away because they do not qualify for services, many because their incomes exceed LASOC's guidelines. Hiring a private attorney for full representation is out of reach for many middle-income individuals, and filing forms without legal advice can be complicated and frustrating, as improperly-completed forms are rejected by the court. LASOC created Legal Genie to solve this problem: Legal Genie is an affordable and innovative service that combines the power of self-help technology with unbundled legal services. To learn more about Legal Genie, go to www.legal-genie.com.

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For Immediate Release
Contact:
Anna Lisa Biason
Director of Development
Legal Aid Society of Orange County

Direct - (714) 571-5220

Fax - (714) 571-5270

Legal Genie Line - (714) 489-2719

abiason@legal-aid.com

www.legal-aid.com

www.legalgenie.com