50 Startups Disrupting the Legal Services Industry

CB Insights:

Online Legal Services –  This section includes startups that provide a range of online legal services to consumers and businesses. This was the largest category in our map and includes Avvo which raised a $71.5M Series E from Technology Crossover Ventures in July 2015.

E-discovery – This refers to any process in which electronic data is searched and obtained for use as evidence in a civil or criminal case. Startups here are primarily building digital tools to enhance that process. The most notable private company in the category is kCura, which raised an $125M growth equity round from Iconiq Capital in February 2015.

Practice Management Software – Companies here provide billing, time, and contract-management tools to law firms. Clio one of the more well-funded startups in the category has raised over $25M from investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and Point Nine Capital, among others.

Intellectual Property/Trademark Software Services – Companies here include Innovation Asset Group which builds software that simplifies the invention disclosure process for intellectual property.  Innovation Asset Group has raised $3.9M in disclosed funding to date.

Artificial Intelligence Legal Tech – Companies here use artificial intelligence to summarize legal documents and include LegalSifter, which raised seed financing in March 2016 from Birchmere Ventures.

Litigation Finance – The category counts LexShares and Mighty which allow plaintiffs to accept upfront financing (used for plaintiff medical bills etc.) and in exchange the financier gets a portion of the potential settlement after ones case closes. LexShares raised an undisclosed seed round in November 2014 and Mighty raised a $5.25M Series A led by IA Ventures and Tribeca Venture Partners in September 2015.

Lawyer Search – Startups here include Lexoo which helps consumers search and find the right lawyer. Lexoo has raised $1.7M in disclosed funding to date.

Legal Research – This section includes a variety of online research companies catered to the legal industry. Ravel Law, which raised a $8.1M Series A from New Enterprise Associates, Work-Bench, and Xfund in February 2014 is included in the section.

Notarization Tools –  This was the smallest section in our market map and includes Notarize, which provides consumers with a digital notarization service. Notarize raised an $8.5M Series from Polaris Partners, Founders Fund, and Ludlow Ventures in June 2016.