This is the core of the legal service put forward by Attorney Jang So-young, who transformed from an advertising planner to a prosecutor and then again to a law firm head. To help people who cannot find an attorney because of time, expense, and psychological barriers, she launched a new law firm with a "24-hour consultation system." It stems from the belief that "the law should be easy for anyone to use whenever needed."
In an interview held on the 19th at the office in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Jang So-young, head attorney of Law Firm JR, said, "Even if people want to meet an attorney once, many hesitate because of time, expense, and psychological burdens," adding, "I wanted to create a law firm that anyone can access at any time."
Law Firm JR combined market analysis and targeting strategies learned during the advertising planner days to introduce "data-driven online marketing" that delivers necessary information to clients in legal blind spots. It built a system where data science experts and attorneys collaborate and lowered consultation barriers through social media (SNS) such as KakaoTalk and Instagram.
It also set up a 24-hour consultation response system so that when a client leaves a consultation request, staff contact the client within 30 minutes, organize the details, and pass them to an attorney. The policy is to guide resolution at the pre-litigation stage to reduce expense burdens. The following is a Q&A with Jang.
─What prompted you to establish a new law firm.
"In 2013, when the Ministry of Justice introduced the village attorney system, I was in charge of promotion. It allowed residents in areas without attorneys to receive free consultations by phone or email. At the time, I often heard, 'I wanted to meet an attorney once, but never had the chance.' The situation is similar in cities. People cannot find an attorney because they are busy with work, because of expense burdens, or because they wonder, 'Is it okay to go for something like this.' To lower these barriers, I created a new type of law firm."
─What did you feel working as a prosecutor for 20 years.
"There were many cases that could have been prevented with just a little legal advice. These include tenants who could not get their deposits back, cases where a passageway dispute was left unattended and escalated into litigation, and workers who endured unfair treatment at work. One foreign worker regained rights through a single round of legal advice."
─What sets you apart from existing law firms.
"We started from the question, 'How can we enable more people to actually use the law.' We removed time barriers with nighttime and weekend consultations and lowered spatial barriers with remote consultations. We introduced a step-by-step expense structure so people can respond at relatively low expense.
Legal services should be established as everyday infrastructure, not as something 'only special people use.' By improving accessibility, we can reduce disputes and also lower social expense," she said."
─How is 24-hour consultation possible.
"We keep various consultation channels open, and when a client leaves information, staff contact the client within 30 minutes to organize the details. We have a system that responds immediately even at dawn."
─Why can you lower legal expenses.
"The existing market is litigation-centered. But many cases can be resolved at the pre-litigation stage. Many end with just a consultation or a content-certified letter. Early intervention can significantly reduce expense."
─Can you give a specific example.
"Most disputes in apartment residents' representative councils start from misunderstandings. If information disclosure is not done properly, outsiders may mistake it for embezzlement or breach of trust. Such conflicts can escalate into criminal cases such as defamation or insult. In many cases, early legal advice is sufficient to resolve them."
─What are your main practice areas.
"For the recently implemented trial petition system, swift response is important. Also, in school bullying cases, early response is key, and attorneys with relevant experience can help."