Self Help Law Center

DIY Law

by: Heather Schoell

Wayne Moore, owner of the Self Help Law Center, is not just another Washington lawyer skulking around DC Superior Court. In fact, he’s not even a lawyer [editors note: Wayne is a lawyer], but a self-described "’60s child and still a bit idealistic … determined to expand access to justice to the middle class." What Wayne does is make law documents and attorney advice accessible at a fraction of the cost of usual lawyer fees. Kind of like Home Depot: You can do it, he can help.

Wayne Moore was with AARP for 30 years, where he worked to improve access for low-income seniors to legal services without sacrificing the quality of service. "I had a certain amount of success," Wayne said. "I developed the legal hotline concept. Hotline attorneys answer the phones directly, and if all the client needs is advice, they are given advice over the phone, followed by a letter reiterating the advice. One hotline attorney can serve 2,700 people a year instead of the normal 300 to 600. During my tenure at AARP, the staff I managed, who was devoted to providing legal services, grew from five to 80." When AARP reorganized and offered Wayne a retirement package, he took it as an opportunity to start his own business, the Self Help Law Center.

"I decided to start a law firm … I began with contracting with a number of attorneys in private practice who agreed to provide telephone services to my clients," said Wayne. "Providing all services by telephone, the internet and mail substantially reduces my costs. And recent research studies have found that legal services delivered to a client by telephone yield as good or better results than services provided face-to-face." This novel approach to law was something that he believed in, but diving into a startup on a retirement salary was a big risk.

"We handle 33 areas of the law by contracting with many lawyers who collectively have that range of expertise. All of our services are provided by very experienced lawyers; most have more than 12 years of experience," said Wayne. With that preparedness as his backing, he’s open for business.

In an age of $1 apples and $4 gallons of gas, having an attorney on retainer is for the privileged few. "One thing I am really pleased about is that we can help most people who are currently representing themselves in a lawsuit," Wayne stated. "Believe it or not, most people who use the DC courts are not represented by lawyers," he explained. "DC Superior Court staff estimate that in 70 percent of the divorces, at least one spouse is unrepresented." To be clear, the Self Help Law Center does not accompany clients in court, but rather helps to prepare and notarize documents that the court will accept in cases of self-representation.

The service benefits anyone who requires standard legal documentation, not just those in a court process. For example, the Self Help Law Center charges affordable flat fees for documents such as residential leases, living wills, living trusts and deed transfers. "We even incorporate businesses and provide advice to business owners about their legal matters," said Wayne. Legal advice over the phone is only $39, and they offer mediation services.

The Self Help Law Center serves low-income clients, but most of their clientele is middle-income, people "who realize our prices are a real bargain" – like $49 for an identity theft repair kit, or $138 for a lease agreement, or $259 to establish a profit or nonprofit corporation in DC (including bylaws).

Documentation can be done remotely from start to finish, including payment and notarization. Now might be a good time to finally get that will in order, and going online at the Self Help Law Center might be the least expensive and most convenient way to get it done professionally. Check out the complete list of available documents and areas of legal advice at www.moorenonprofitlaw.org, or call Wayne at 202-393-0181. Wayne’s office is located on the second floor at 406 Fifth St. NW.

Heather Schoell is a regular contributor to the Hill Rag. She can be reached at hschoell@verizon.net.