Frequently asked questions

No. By the Matter is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. The attorneys who send fixed-fee quotes are independent and licensed. When you choose an attorney, your engagement is with that attorney.

Before an attorney can send quotes, By the Matter verifies that they are licensed in New York and in good standing. By the Matter does not rate, rank or recommend attorneys: each quote shows the attorney's license and experience, and you decide.

You do not pay by the hour or commit before you know the price. You see several fixed-fee quotes, choose the attorney yourself, and every request ends with the attorney's sign-off on the final version.

By the Matter is starting with contracts governed by New York law, with more states to follow. Tell us which state's law applies when you send your request.

Start a request on this site, email us, or ask from inside Claude or ChatGPT. Attach the contract if you have one, or describe what you need in your own words.

Anything about a contract: drafting a new one, reviewing one you were sent or wrote yourself, negotiating changes with the other side, or a question about a clause.

A few lines on what you need, and the contract if you have one. Tell us who the other side is, roughly what the deal is worth, your deadline and anything that worries you. A rough draft, a template or a message in your own words is fine.

Licensed attorneys who handle that kind of contract see a summary of your request, not your contact details, so they can send a fixed-fee quote. Attorneys owe a duty of confidentiality to prospective clients. Only the attorney you choose works on your contract.

Yes. Attorneys send fixed-fee quotes with their fee, what is included and when it will be ready. You compare them and choose. Nobody is assigned to you.

What their quote says. For a review that is usually a redlined contract with comments and a short summary of the main risks; for drafting, a finished contract. Every request ends with the attorney's sign-off on the final version.

You do not have to choose one. Nothing starts and nothing is charged until you choose a quote.

Each quote states when the work will be ready, so you can choose by delivery date as well as by fee. We will publish measured response times once we have them.

Yes. Send it as it is. A licensed attorney reads it line by line, fixes what is wrong or missing, and signs off on the version you will use.

It can be. A contract is binding when the parties agree to it and the usual requirements are met, whoever or whatever typed it. The risk is the content: AI drafts often miss terms, pick the wrong state's law, or say something different from what you meant.

The attorney's fixed fee for exactly what you asked, plus the USD 59.00 By the Matter workflow fee on Standard. Fees depend on the contract, what you need and how soon; a lease, a business sale or a contract drafted from scratch usually costs more than a short review. There is no hourly billing. See pricing.

No. USD 59.00 is the By the Matter workflow fee on Standard. Your total also includes the attorney's fixed fee for the work. Every quote shows the full total before you choose.

Premium is for requests where you want us to handle everything from the start: working out what you need, preparing your request, arranging the drafting from scratch, and helping you whenever you have a question until the work is done. You pay the attorney's fixed fee plus a one-time Premium fee instead of the By the Matter workflow fee.

No. Premium is a one-time fee for one request. There is no monthly plan and nothing renews. We tell you the Premium fee with your quote, before anything is charged.

Only when you choose a quote. Sending a request and getting quotes is free, and you can choose none.

Each attorney sets their own fixed fee for your request. By the Matter does not set attorneys' fees or take a percentage of them.

The quote is fixed for the scope it describes. If you ask for more, for example a second round on a new version from the other side, the attorney sends a new fixed quote for that work, and nothing is charged unless you accept it.