Ask HN: As a small company, where can I get affordable legal advice? • Hacker News Board

Post by nk- » Mon, Jan 20, 2020, 9:20 PM UTC

I have a small side business running a few websites and earning money through ads. I am based in the EU but many of my users are in the US.

So far I have been dealing with legal questions around this myself but I have some questions around data protection and the CCPA that I would like to ask a professional about. I am happy to pay a reasonable rate for a qualified advisor (I guess they'd be a lawyer?) to help me with this but I have no idea how to find one. This would have to be someone reasonably well versed in Californian laws although they could be based anywhere.

Can anybody recommend someone who might be able to help with something like this, or could give me any suggestions for finding someone?

Post by PaulHoule » Mon, Jan 20, 2020, 9:37 PM UTC

In the US where I live, a good public library has a few shelf units of book from companies such as Nolo Press which explains much of the law as it pertains to patents, rental properties, loans, e.g.

For me a few hours spent there helps me understand the situation, take some actions (e.g. file a patent application myself) and also to appreciate what the lawyer does that I can't do.

In specialized areas of law in different lands it get harder. Some very good lawyers specialize in routine work such as probate, wills, and creating corporations -- they are qualified to help you but they would spend many hours educating themselves to know the right answer.

I think the EU there much be a law school near you, and around law schools you find people being educated in the latest law -- EU has its own data protection regime and lawyers will be quite concerned how it interacts with CCPA.