Ethan Ramos
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Free and Cheap Legal Resources
by Ethan Ramos
Do-it-yourself filmmakers have plenty of options when seeking legal guidance. The following are great resources:
- An Introduction to Securites Law: The nice people at the Securities and Exchange Commission provide this informative web page. (Their server is not always reliable.) Free!
- Advice on Choosing a Legal Form of Business Organization: Attorney Fred S. Steingold of Michigan addresses the advantages and disadvantages of sole proprieterships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations. Free!
- Film Investment Legal Discussion Board: Attorney John Cones of California provides answers to questions about securities for film projects. Free!
- Securities Law Discussion Board: Attorney Mark Astarita of New York also provides answers to questions about securities of a more general nature. Free!
- Caldwell Legal Business Protector Premier Plan: This is a legal services plan for small businesses that provides virtually unlimited telephone consultations and a review of documents of up to 6 pages, all included in the monthly fee; other services, including review of longer documents, cost up to $85/hour, which is still cheaper than most lawyers; $37/month.
- Business Owners Legal Solutions Plan: This is another legal services plan for small businesses that provides virtually unlimited telephone consultations and a review of documents of up to 15 pages, all included in the monthly fee; other services, including review of longer documents, are available at a 25% discount from the usual fees of the law firm; $75/month.
Legal mumbo jumbo can seem overwhelming at first. The preceding sources simplify things and thereby offer you a basic understanding of how to a securities offering. Also, libraries and bookstores, especially those specializing in law, provide great information.
A legal services plan is especially helpful. Such plans provide a law firm on a month-to-month retainer, which makes the fee for basic services cheap. As a cheap alternative to expensive lawyers, I recommend getting a legal services plan.
In particular, Business Owners Legal Solutions could supplement my service of preparing your investment offering. Accordingly, you could have their lawyer review the offering documents I prepare.
As mentioned, Business Owners Legal Solutions provides free review of documents for its clients. Such documents can be up to 15 pages. With a little temporary reformatting, each individual document in your investment offering could qualify for the free review by their lawyer. Why pay $1,500-$4,000 to some other lawyer?
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