Help Center
Find answers, guides, and support for using LawChain. Whether you're a client seeking legal help or a lawyer growing your practice, we're here to help.
Quick Start Guide for Clients
Learn how to post your first case, find the right lawyer, and manage your legal matters securely on LawChain.
Create Your Account
Enter your full name, email, and create a password
Or sign up quickly with Google
Select "I need legal help" as your role
Verify your email address by clicking the link we send you
Tip: Use your real name
Lawyers will see your name when reviewing your case. Using your real name builds trust.
Post Your Legal Case
From your dashboard, click "Post New Case" to describe your legal needs.
Case Details
- Title: A brief summary of your legal need (e.g., "Divorce Filing Assistance")
- Description: Detailed explanation of your situation and what you need help with
- Category: Select the area of law (Family Law, Business Law, etc.)
- Urgency: How soon you need help (Low, Medium, High)
- Location: Your city in California
Setting Your Budget
Break down your case into payment milestones. This protects both you and the lawyer:
- Example Milestone 1: "Initial Consultation & Strategy" - $500
- Example Milestone 2: "Document Preparation" - $1,500
- Example Milestone 3: "Court Filing & Representation" - $3,000
Important
Be specific in your description. The more details you provide, the better proposals you'll receive from lawyers.
Find & Hire a Lawyer
You can browse our directory of 30,000+ California attorneys or wait for lawyers to respond to your case.
Using the Lawyer Directory
- Go to Find Lawyers in your dashboard
- Filter by specialization (e.g., Family Law)
- Filter by location if you need in-person meetings
- Review lawyer profiles, ratings, and completed cases
- Click "View Profile" for detailed information
- Use "Create a Case" to hire a specific lawyer
What to Look For
- Verified badge (California Bar verified)
- Relevant specialization for your case type
- Good ratings and reviews from past clients
- Experience (years practicing, cases completed)
- Reasonable hourly rate for your budget
Fund Your Milestones
Once you've hired a lawyer, you'll need to fund the first milestone to begin work. Your money is held securely in escrow until you approve the completed work.
Go to your case details page
Click on the case from your dashboard
Click "Fund Milestone" on the first milestone
You can only fund milestones in order
Complete payment via credit card
Secure payment processing by Stripe
Money is held in escrow
Your lawyer can now begin work
Escrow Protection
Your funds are protected until you review and approve the completed work. If there's a dispute, we provide free arbitration.
Communicate & Track Progress
In-Case Messaging
Use the built-in messaging system to communicate with your lawyer. All messages are saved and can be referenced later. You'll receive notifications when your lawyer sends a message.
Document Sharing
Upload and share documents directly within your case. Both you and your lawyer can access all shared files in the Documents section.
Milestone Tracking
Monitor progress through your milestone tracker. When your lawyer completes work, they'll submit the milestone for your review.
Review & Release Payment
When your lawyer submits a milestone as complete, you'll receive a notification to review the work.
Review the submitted work
Check that it meets your expectations
If satisfied, click "Approve & Release Payment"
Funds are released to your lawyer (minus 1% platform fee)
If issues exist, request revisions or open a dispute
Our team can help mediate if needed
Leave a review for your lawyer
Help other clients make informed decisions
You're Ready!
Now you know the basics. Here are some helpful next steps: