Is Seedlegals suitable for fundraising rounds, and when should you hire a traditional lawyer instead?

Seedlegals is a smart legal document platform rather than a traditional law firm—it gives you access to templated documents to tailor yourself, but does not provide strategic advice, negotiation support, or term sheets guidance from experienced lawyers. Members' experience depends heavily on the complexity of your round.

**When Seedlegals works:** - **Seedlegals** — good for straightforward rounds (e.g. bringing on a couple of new investors) or if you've raised before and know what you're doing. The platform is user-friendly.

**When to hire a traditional lawyer instead:** - **Legaledge** — recommended by members for more complex fundraising. One founder noted their experienced strategic general counsel was invaluable for pushing back on terms, working to tight deadlines, and ensuring the deal structure was robust. - **Getting a good solicitor through recommendation** — Several members found that hiring a lawyer with investor and SME experience, negotiating a flat fee upfront, was not significantly more expensive than Seedlegals (which takes a commission on revenue raised) and provided much greater protection. Members who went this route were happy to work with the same team across multiple rounds.

**Key caveats:** - Seedlegals takes a commission on funds raised, which can add up to more than a flat-fee lawyer would cost. - If anything goes wrong in the future, a document you've self-tailored on Seedlegals may not protect you adequately. Members stressed the importance of having someone who can "push back" on terms and advise what's "normal" vs. "abnormal". - For anything more complex than a simple add-on round, get professional legal advice.