“We did not have a personal recommendation for a lawyer to help us create a nonprofit, so we tried using UpCounsel. We received several quotes that seemed promising, and the attorney we ended up selecting did a great job. The platform was easy to use and helped us feel more confident navigating this world for the first time.”
“Alton helped us resolve a complex federal patent infringement matter involving a Schedule A lawsuit. He quickly identified key issues in the plaintiff’s case, including a patent-marking problem that significantly affected the damages analysis, and provided practical guidance throughout the process.
Although he was not admitted in the jurisdiction and therefore could not appear directly in court, he helped us understand the procedural situation, prepared a draft motion for local counsel to use, and developed a negotiation strategy that ultimately led to a very favorable settlement. The plaintiff initially demanded $30,000, and the matter was ultimately resolved for $3,000.
Alton was knowledgeable, responsive, and focused on finding a cost-effective resolution rather than unnecessarily increasing legal expenses. I appreciated his straightforward advice and willingness to think strategically about the case. I would recommend him to businesses facing intellectual property disputes and looking for practical litigation and settlement guidance.”
“I was really surprised with how great it was. I didn’t have much expectation or think I’d find an attorney. But I did and the attorney was awesome! I’m going to continue to use her too!”
“My experience with UpCounsel was disappointing. I did not find the support responsive, and there was no practical phone support when I needed help. After I funded escrow for a legal engagement, the attorney requested a separate external engagement letter that had not been clearly disclosed upfront. I did not sign it and cancelled the engagement before any usable work was delivered.
Despite that, I then had to deal with repeated invoice reminders and attempted billing, while my refund requests for the escrow amount went unanswered for a long time. The whole process felt overly automated and billing-driven rather than customer-focused. I would strongly caution anyone using the platform to read the engagement terms very carefully and be prepared for poor support if something goes wrong.
UpCounsel felt less like a professional legal marketplace and more like an automated invoicing system.
I did not receive a usable deliverable and no refund too. Attached are evidences for:
- I am still waiting for escrow refund (see attachment 1)
- The attorney required a separate engagement letter that was not clearly disclosed before hire, and after I cancelled before work really began, I still received repeated billing attempts instead of a timely refund. (see attachment 2)”
“My selected attorney over promised and under delivered. The delays without communication cost me a client and cost more than we promised. UpCounsel didn't resolve the issue, instead they forced additional communication without any discount, consideration, or resolution.”
“I deeply regret using UpCounsel. My first experience with this platform was an absolute nightmare. The attorney I hired was not only incompetent but also incredibly unprofessional—he dismissed my input, took offense when I provided necessary information, and eventually threw an unfinished document at me and walked away.
When I reached out to UpCounsel for help with a dispute, they were completely useless. Instead of intervening, they let the matter sit, which allowed the incompetent attorney to process an unauthorized charge of over $1,000 for work that was not finished. I ended up having to pay double just to hire a second, qualified attorney to fix the first one's mess.
UpCounsel has zero customer service. You cannot reach them by phone, and they do not respond to emails in a timely or helpful manner. They provide no protection for clients against predatory or incompetent legal providers. This was my first and definitely my last time using this service. If you value your time and money, stay away.”
“The attorney didn’t do anything with my documents (no repairs) and charged me $1500, he refused to acknowledge comments he missed without more money from me.”
“I appreciate the idea behind the platform, but the execution falls short. There are very few lawyers available, and the overall quality of service feels inconsistent. Many attorneys on the platform have a narrow focus and a limited skill set, which makes it difficult for clients to get meaningful support, especially for issues that don’t fit neatly into a single practice area. The platform promotes unbundled services, but the lawyers themselves often aren’t equipped to deliver them in a way that actually meets client needs.
The legal industry has long relied on information asymmetry: clients didn’t know what questions to ask, what the law required, or how to evaluate the quality of legal work. That dynamic is changing. Clients now expect transparency, clarity, and value, not vague assurances or recycled templates. Platforms like this could help shift the industry, but only if they attract attorneys who are willing to work in a more open, client‑centered way.
AI is accelerating a shift the legal industry has resisted for decades. Clients no longer need lawyers simply for access to information or for modified boilerplate templates based on whatever content an attorney happens to be familiar or comfortable with. Modern tools make information widely accessible, which means the real value now lies in analysis, judgment, and the ability to integrate facts across domains. Lawyers with narrow focus areas and limited skill sets will struggle in this environment unless they learn to leverage technology and deliver genuinely client‑centered, transparent service. The platform would benefit from recruiting attorneys who understand this transition and who can work alongside modern tools rather than relying on outdated habits.
The legal profession is also facing a credibility challenge. For years, many attorneys have operated with narrow practice areas and limited skill sets, relying on the assumption that clients wouldn’t notice gaps in quality because the information wasn’t accessible. That model is no longer sustainable. Clients can now see when work is boilerplate, when analysis is shallow or incorrect, and when an attorney is simply modifying a template rather than engaging with the actual facts. Transparency is no longer optional; it’s the baseline expectation.”
“Slow response to issues. Unauthorized billing pushed through without checking and confirming legtimancy of invoices. Good luck getting customer service on the phone or to return a call.”
“As someone who works with attorneys regularly, I decided to try UpCounsel hoping for a fresh perspective and a more agile experience. The platform's pitch was compelling enough, vetted attorneys, responsive service, and a modern approach.
But the reality fell short. Communication from UpCounsel was nearly nonexistent, and getting any meaningful engagement after filing a complaint about their repetitive billing reminders , sent before I even had a chance to review my invoice , was the last straw. That kind of aggressive billing practice, paired with a complete lack of responsive support, left a lot to be desired, and to be clear the text messages and emails were for hundereds of dollars not thousands!
What makes it particularly disappointing is that I thought very highly of my attorney, Maria and still do. She was excellent. Yet UpCounsel's billing culture put her in an impossible position, one where she felt compelled to tell me that discussing billing made her uncomfortable. That moment said more about the platform than any review ever could. Perhaps that arrangement works well for the attorneys on their roster. It does not work for the client.
I'll be dropping their service as of today. I wasn't looking for perfection, just a platform that operates with basic professionalism and respect for the people paying for it. UpCounsel fell short on both counts. I'll be going back to who I know, direct and cut out the middleman.”
“Terrible experience with lawyer and support. Like go get a lawyer in your area to do this stuff lol. Every state/city in the US has hundreds/thousands of lawyers that are specialized.”
“Jake was outstanding throughout the entire process.
From the very beginning, he demonstrated deep knowledge of trademark law and gave me clear, honest guidance — even when it meant adjusting my original strategy to avoid potential issues with USPTO approval.
He helped me navigate a complex situation with my brand name and ultimately guided me toward a much stronger and safer option. His advice was not only legally sound, but also strategic from a business perspective.
Communication was always smooth, professional, and timely. He answered all my questions with clarity and made sure I fully understood each step of the process.
Thanks to his support, I was able to successfully move forward with my trademark and Amazon Brand Registry without unnecessary delays or mistakes.
If you're serious about building a brand and want to do things the right way from the start, I highly recommend working with Jake.”
“It’s very convenient to write your issue and professional attorney will contact you describe the steps that you need to know and how he’s going to help you. It’s very helpful
Thank you”
