In a move that could potentially reshape how people look at the delivery of consumer and SMB legal services, genAI-driven research platform Perplexity is to provide its Pro subscribers with LegalZoom’s legal help directly within the application.
For Artificial Lawyer this is something of a watershed moment, as it’s not just a Google search that might drag up some random bits of legal info, or a ChatGPT prompt to surface something the LLM has perused – it’s an active and deep connection between Perplexity and a bona fide legal information supplier – in this case LegalZoom.
As readers know, LegalZoom pioneered the field of providing legally reliable templates and related legal information to consumers and SMBs – often running into challenges from local Bars in the US because of what it did. Yet, here we are now….which takes things to a new level.
As the companies explained, the move matters because:
‘The partnership reflects a broader shift in consumer behaviour as generative AI platforms continue to gain in popularity for information and research needs.
Perplexity Pro subscribers will gain access to exclusive offers from LegalZoom, including discounts on legal services and products tailored to individuals and small businesses.
LegalZoom will be the provider of legal services for Perplexity Pro users.’
Another way of looking at it would be that as more people turn to LLMs for legal help, then companies that have dominated this consumer area face a challenge. In this case it looks like a ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ scenario. And it makes a lot of sense. Plus, kudos to LegalZoom for seizing the moment.
It also, as noted, could be a big moment for the wider legal market. If you can use a combination of Perplexity’s LLM abilities, with the know-how and legal experience of LegalZoom – and all their curated data and documents – then you have quite a compelling offering. It’s also an affordable and fast offering that will appeal to a lot of people.
Kathy Tsitovich, Chief Corporate Development & Partnership Officer at LegalZoom, said: ‘We recognized early that the way people search for answers was fundamentally changing, and developed a strategy to meet customers at their point of need.
‘Our partnership with Perplexity is the first of many strategic alliances we plan to enter into as we meet our customers where they are and position LegalZoom at the forefront of this search revolution. By embedding our trusted legal solutions directly into these new search experiences, we’re ensuring users get accessible, affordable legal guidance exactly when and how they’re looking for it.’
And Dmitry Shevelenko, Chief Business Officer at Perplexity, added: ‘Legal questions are some of the most common and important ones our users rely on us for. We’re excited to partner with LegalZoom to deliver value-added services that support our users in meaningful ways.’
Is this a big deal? There are online offerings that provide something a bit similar, including just using Google search….but…..there is something more here, something deeper. It’s also something that can grow and grow. And LegalZoom hinted there will be more such deals to come.
Why not have Perplexity at some point launch a full legal division, bringing in the law firms that LegalZoom allies with into the deal as well? Why not make an offering that reaches not just into consumer needs, but Big Law too?
It’s a tantalising idea…..And one that will no doubt exercise some folks at local Bar orgs. But, it also looks like a fait accompli.
For now, it’s early days, but as we have seen with the rapid deployment of agents in just a few months across the legal tech market, and the growth of AI across the economy, there is much more that can change here and quite rapidly.
It’s also another sign of how the ‘Small Law’ sector is rapidly changing – a fact that AL keeps coming back to.
If you’ve not used Perplexity before, it’s worth a look. AL has found it useful for general research. It will be very interesting to see how this goes.
You can find more about Perplexity here.
P.S. If you work at Perplexity and would like to know more about the cutting edge of legal tech…..then please have a look below. We’d be delighted to see you next week in San Francisco.
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Legal Innovators California conference, San Francisco, June 11 + 12
If you’re interested in the cutting edge of legal AI and innovation – and where we are all heading – then come along to Legal Innovators California, in San Francisco, June 11 and 12, where speakers from the leading law firms, inhouse teams, and tech companies will be sharing their insights and experiences as to what is really happening.
We already have an incredible roster of companies to hear from. This includes: &AI, Legora, Harvey, StructureFlow, Ivo, Flatiron Law Group, PointOne, Centari, LexisNexis, eBrevia, Legatics, Knowable, Draftwise, newcode.AI, Riskaway, Aracor, SimpleClosure and more.
Cooley, Wilson Sonsini, Baker McKenzie, Gunderson, Ropes & Grey, A&O Shearman and many other leading law firms will also be taking part.
See you all there!
More information and tickets here.
P.S. there will also be a Legal Innovators New York conference this November 19 + 20 ! See here.
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