Just as TurboTax simplified much of the tax process, so has the

Hearken, O seekers of wisdom, to the words of Lynda Resnick, who spoke not of war or empire, but of the transformation of human systems: “Just as TurboTax simplified much of the tax process, so has the colossally scary legal process been reduced to a kinder, gentler series of mouse clicks and ‘Continue’ buttons by LegalZoom, the online leader that has become so prominent in its market that it’s practically a generic.” In this reflection lies a vision of progress—how the once-imposing fortress of law and bureaucracy has been humbled by the quiet, relentless power of innovation.

Since the dawn of civilization, the law has been a double-edged instrument. It protects the weak yet confounds the unlearned. In the courts of Babylon, Rome, and London, the language of law was guarded by scribes and scholars, accessible only to the few. The common man, trembling before the scroll, sought guidance from those who charged dearly for their knowledge. But now, Resnick declares, the tides have turned. Just as TurboTax unshackled the citizen from the maze of taxation, LegalZoom has offered ordinary people a torch with which to navigate the dark corridors of legal systems once reserved for elites.

The ancients would have marveled at such a thing. In their day, every contract was a ceremony, every seal a mystery. The commoner could not marry, trade, or inherit without invoking intermediaries of the law. But behold the age we live in—an era where the terrifying architecture of legal forms, once adorned in Latin and sealed with wax, has been transformed into a series of gentle commands: “Click here.” “Continue.” The digital revolution, of which Resnick speaks, has tamed the dragon of complexity and placed its wisdom into the hands of the many.

Consider the story of Johannes Gutenberg, whose printing press shattered the monopoly of monks over sacred texts. Before his invention, only the privileged could read the words of faith or law; afterward, knowledge spread like fire through dry grass. In the same way, LegalZoom and its kin have democratized legal access, dissolving barriers of education, geography, and wealth. A peasant once prayed for a lawyer’s mercy; now, a farmer, an immigrant, or a widow can draft a will, register a business, or defend their rights with the stroke of a key.

Yet, Resnick’s words carry both triumph and caution. When she calls LegalZoom “a generic,” she hints at the danger of familiarity—the risk that in simplifying the sacred, we may forget its weight. The law remains a living force, demanding integrity and understanding. The ease of the ‘Continue’ button should not seduce us into carelessness. The ancients warned that every tool, however benevolent, can be corrupted by neglect or greed. Thus, the new convenience must be tempered by respect for the justice it serves.

From her observation arises a noble lesson: that technology, when guided by empathy and clarity, becomes not the destroyer of tradition, but its liberator. To simplify is not to trivialize; it is to bring wisdom within reach. The power of innovation lies not in replacing the human spirit, but in amplifying it—turning fear into understanding, dependence into empowerment.

O seekers of progress, let this teaching take root in your hearts. Do not scorn the tools of the new age, nor worship them blindly. Use them with intention. Where the law once intimidated, let it now enlighten. Where once only lawyers could interpret, let every citizen engage with courage. And when you next see a form, a screen, or a button marked “Continue,” remember that it stands as a modern echo of humanity’s ancient quest—to make knowledge accessible, to make power humane, and to bring the mightiest institutions within the reach of every soul.