An overview of the LawFirmPro Legal Service Marketplace
What is the LawFirmPro Marketplace?
How do users find and hire firms through the LawFirmPro Marketplace?
Are there any costs associated with using the LawFirmPro Marketplace?
Will information about my institution be kept private?

Using the database
How can the LawFirmPro database help me find the right firm?
How do I use the LawFirmPro database together with the RFI or RFP Service?
Do I have to register to use the LawFirmPro database?

Using the LawFirmPro Legal Service Marketplace to make requests to firms
What is a Proposal Request ("RFP")?
How do I create an effective RFP?
Why do I have to register to post RFPs?

An overview of the LawFirmPro Legal Service Marketplace

What is the LawFirmPro Legal Service Marketplace?

LawFirmPro, Inc. helps professional legal consultants secure legal contracts and attorneys find professional legal consultants online. LawFirmPro assists legal consultants in identifying and responding to proposal request (RFP) opportunities from attorneys and law firms nationwide. LawFirmPro utilizes, "BidPro", its two way matching technology in connecting attorneys and professional legal consultants. LawFirmPro provides firms a series of highly valuable marketing and business development opportunities:

• A searchable database of firms in the target industries
• Access to targeted marketing information from firms
• A proposal request ("RFP") service
• BidPro- two way matching technology
• Real-world networking opportunities for users and firms

How do users find and hire firms through the LawFirmPro Legal Service Marketplace?

Through LawFirmPro's fast and simple process, attorney's and law firms can find the best legal service provider for their needs based on numerous factors, including price, expertise, and deployment capabilities, while reducing transaction costs associated with the traditional search process. The end result is a more informed user with more competitive options than would otherwise be available. LawFirmPro is easy to use:

• LawFirmPro offers 3 primary tools for locating and posting requests with firms: (1) the database (2) BidPro and (3) the proposal request ("RFP").
• The Database. The database enables users to search for firms using many highly specific criteria, such as location, regional expertise, industry expertise, practice area, subpractice area, and keyword.
• BidPro- Create a proposal request (RFP)and allow LawFirmPro to connect your needs to professional legal consultants
• The RFP Service. The RFP service enables users to communicate requests for formal proposals and meetings. The RFP service may be used in conjunction with the database to target the request to certain firms that meet criteria specified by the user.
• Firms that receive a request and are interested in a posted project will contact the user to provide information as to how they can satisfy the user's needs.

Are there any costs associated with using the LawFirmPro Legal Service Marketplace?

LawFirmPro is absolutely free for users! We do not charge any fees for searching the database, posting requests or finding matches through LawFirmPro. And there are no hidden costs. In fact, firms that accept projects through LawFirmPro agree not to charge LawFirmPro users any premiums or fees beyond what they would normally charge.

Will information about my institution be kept private?

Yes, LawFirmPro only shares the information that you ask it to communicate.

If you are simply conducting a search of the LawFirmPro database, no information will be shared with firms. If you post an RFP, only the information that you choose to reveal to firms will be given to them. In addition, you may specify which firms are to receive the request. No information provided for purposes of registering for LawFirmPro will be sold or used without prior permission.

Using the Database

How can the LawFirmPro Database help me find the right firm?

Users may easily and efficiently use LawFirmPro's database of firms to identify and evaluate firms providing legal services as expert witness, court reporter, investigator, mediator, process server and/or practice support consultant.

You can search the database using highly specific criteria, such as expertise, location, specialized skills, industry expertise, and keyword.

• The LawFirmPro search engine provides feedback as to the number of anticipated matches as the user proceeds to add additional search criteria. The end result is that users will know when to stop narrowing the search and proceed to viewing results.
• Search results will provide comparative information regarding firms within a particular service area and target information specific to the particular specialty area of interest.
• Users can evaluate the experience and reputation of firms by reviewing information on representative cases and projects handled by the firm.

By bringing together thousands of legal service providers onto a single database, LawFirmPro will significantly lower the costs incurred in researching and acquiring legal professional services.

Do I have to register to use the LawFirmPro database?

Yes. If you are simply using the database to search for firms, LawFirmPro will need to authenticate your identity. If you choose to post anRFP based on your database search results, you will be asked to register so that we may verify your identity.

Using the LawFirmPro Legal Service Marketplace to make requests to firms

What is a Proposal Request ("RFP")?

A Proposal Request ("RFP") is a formal mechanism for making contact and obtaining formal written proposals from firms offering to handle a specific project or provide general services.

How do I create an effective RFP?

• Communicate your needs: In an RFP, the issuing attorney (the "user") specifies its needs and asks firms to respond with a description of how they can meet those needs. In addition to the project description, it is important that the RFP include a list of questions that the service provider should answer.
• Obtain formal proposals: If firms are interested in your request, they will send you a proposal by the due date you specify. Proposals submitted in response to an RFP generally include, among other things, a description of various items relevant to the project: (1) services that a firm is able to supply, (2) direct relevant experience, and (3) pricing. The specific information that will be provided in proposals will depend on the pieces of information asked for in the RFP.
• You decide which firms receive your request: LawFirmPro's free RFP service incorporates flexible posting options designed to suit a user's specific needs. Users can communicate their basic needs to as many or as few firms as they choose, and even have the option to send RFPs to particular firms they have already selected. Because the RFP process is designed to gather competitive proposals, you may even consider asking a firm you normally use to respond to the RFP - so that its proposal may be considered against others.
• Post your request anonymously if you wish: In addition, where secrecy is very important, you may post an RFP anonymously. The tips for creating an RFP explain how to use the anonymizer feature most effectively and describe some of the pitfalls you may encounter.