Jeff Hughes had a hard time finding a job after law school. He loved coffee shops and wanted to help people with legal problems. So he and his wife Annie started Legal Grind. It’s a place where you can drink coffee and get legal advice. They wanted to make legal help easy and not scary. They went on Shark Tank in Season 1. They asked for $200,000 for 15% of their business.
They hoped the sharks would invest. But things didn’t go as planned. Will the entrepreneur get a deal on Shark Tank? Check out the Legal Grind update to find out!
In our Legal Grind Update research, After Shark Tank Legal Grind kept going for a while. They didn’t get the money they wanted from the sharks. But they still ran their coffee shop. People could come in, have coffee, and talk to a lawyer. They tried to grow their business. But it was tough. In June 2021, they had to close their last coffee shop. Even though the shop is closed, Jeff still helps people.
He offers legal advice online. He writes blogs about legal topics. So, even without the coffee shop, Jeff continues to support people with their legal needs.
In terms of a Legal Grind Update, No Legal Grind did not get a deal on Shark Tank. Jeff and Annie asked for $200,000. They offered 15% of their company. The sharks liked the idea but had concerns. They worried about how to grow the business. They also thought there might be legal problems. Because of these worries, none of the sharks invested. Jeff and Annie left without a deal.
Legal Grind net worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Jeff and Annie were looking for an investment of $200,000 in exchange for 15% equity in their company, Legal Grind. At the time of the episode, they valued their company at approximately $1.33 million. They did not secure a deal with any of the Sharks. As of 2024, Legal Grind has closed its physical locations, and Jeff continues to offer legal services online. Therefore, the current net worth of Legal Grind is difficult to estimate due to the shift in business operations.
Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
Robert Herjavec | out | N/A | N/A |
Barbara Corcoran | Out | N/A | N/A |
Kevin O’Leary | Out | N/A | N/A |
Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
Kevin Harrington | Out | N/A | N/A |
Founders Backstory
Jeff Hughes finished law school and passed the bar exam. But he couldn’t find a job as a lawyer. This was frustrating. He spent a lot of time in coffee shops, thinking about his future. He noticed that many people needed legal help but found law offices scary or too expensive. Jeff had an idea. What if he combined a coffee shop with legal services? A place where people could feel comfortable asking legal questions.
He talked to his wife, Annie, about this idea. She liked it. Together, they decided to start Legal Grind. Starting Legal Grind wasn’t easy. They faced many challenges. First, they needed money to open the shop. They used their savings and borrowed from their family. Finding the right place was also hard. They wanted a spot that was easy for people to visit. After searching, they found a place on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica.
Next, they had to make sure offering legal advice in a coffee shop was okay. They checked the rules and made sure they followed all the laws. This took time and careful planning. They also needed to find lawyers who were willing to work in this new setting. Some lawyers didn’t like the idea. But others saw it as a way to help more people. Jeff chose lawyers who were good at their jobs and cared about helping others.
Marketing was another challenge. They had to let people know about this new service. They used flyers, local ads, and word of mouth. Slowly, people started coming in. Customers liked the relaxed atmosphere. They could drink coffee and get legal advice without feeling nervous. Running the business was tough. Jeff and Annie worked long hours. They managed the coffee shop and the legal services.
Balancing both was hard. They had to make sure the coffee was good and the legal advice was helpful. Over time, they built a loyal group of customers. People appreciated having a place where they could get affordable legal help in a friendly setting.
Initial Pitch
Jeff and Annie walked into the Shark Tank with hope. They greeted the sharks and began their pitch. Jeff shared his story. After law school, he couldn’t find a job. He spent time in coffee shops and saw a need. Many people wanted legal help but found law offices intimidating. So, he and Annie started Legal Grind. It’s a coffee shop where people can get legal advice in a relaxed setting.
They asked the sharks for $200,000. In return, they offered 15% of their company. They wanted the money to open more Legal Grind locations. Their goal was to make legal help easy to get for more people. The sharks listened carefully. They found the idea interesting. Combining coffee with legal services was new. But they had questions. They wanted to know how Jeff and Annie planned to grow the business.
They also wondered if there could be legal issues with this model. Jeff and Annie explained their plans. They talked about franchising. This means other people could open their own Legal Grind shops. They would follow the same model. This way, the business could grow in different places. They also assured the sharks that they had checked all legal requirements. They made sure their services followed the law.
The sharks appreciated their passion. They saw that Jeff and Annie wanted to help people. But they still had concerns. Growing a business like this could be hard. There might be challenges they hadn’t thought about. Because of these worries, the sharks were hesitant to invest.
Queries About The Product
The sharks had many questions. They wanted to understand the business better. Kevin O’Leary asked about the costs. How much does it take to run one Legal Grind location? Jeff explained that they had managed to keep costs low. They combined the expenses of a coffee shop and a small legal office. This made it affordable. Barbara Corcoran was curious about the customers.
Who comes to Legal Grind? Annie shared that many customers are regular people. They need legal help but don’t want to go to a big law firm. They feel comfortable coming to a coffee shop. Daymond John had a question about the lawyers. How do they find lawyers willing to work in a coffee shop? Jeff said they look for lawyers who care about helping people. Some lawyers like the idea of offering services in a relaxed place.
Robert Herjavec wondered about the legal side. Could there be problems mixing coffee and legal advice? Jeff assured him they had checked all the rules. They made sure everything they did was legal. Kevin Harrington asked about their plans to grow. How would they open more locations? Jeff and Annie talked about franchising. They wanted to let others open Legal Grind shops in different areas.
This would help them grow faster. The sharks discussed these answers among themselves. They liked the idea but had concerns. Growing through franchising can be hard. There might be legal challenges they hadn’t thought of. They also wondered if Jeff and Annie had enough experience to handle these challenges.
Shark’s Responses and Final Deal
After asking questions, the sharks shared their thoughts. Daymond John spoke first. He liked the idea but didn’t want to deal with legal matters. He decided not to invest. Barbara Corcoran was next. She liked the concept but worried about their growth plan. She felt Jeff and Annie weren’t clear on how they’d use the money. She chose not to invest. Kevin Harrington had concerns too.
He thought there were issues to fix before franchising. He decided not to invest. Robert Herjavec didn’t like the idea. He didn’t see it working as a big business. He chose not to invest. Kevin O’Leary was the last to speak. He didn’t find the business convincing. He thought the pitch was more like a play than a real plan. He decided not to invest. With all the sharks out, Jeff and Annie didn’t get a deal. They thanked the sharks and left the tank.
What Went Wrong With Legal Grind On Shark Tank?
Several factors led to the sharks not investing. First, they worried about the business model Several factors led to the sharks not investing. First, they worried about the business model. Mixing coffee with legal advice was new, but it also brought challenges. The sharks were not sure if this idea could grow into a big business. They also had concerns about the legal side. Could there be problems offering legal advice in a coffee shop?
Even though Jeff and Annie said they had checked all the rules, the sharks were still unsure. Another issue was franchising. Jeff and Annie wanted to grow their business by letting others open their own Legal Grind locations. But the sharks thought this might be too hard. They were not sure if Legal Grind could become a successful franchise. Franchising takes a lot of money and experience.
Jeff and Annie were passionate, but they might not have had enough experience to make it work. Barbara Corcoran also pointed out another problem. She asked how they would use the investment money. Jeff and Annie didn’t have a clear plan. The sharks like to see a solid plan before they invest. Since Jeff and Annie couldn’t give a clear answer, it made the sharks nervous. The sharks also questioned the demand.
Would enough people want legal advice in a coffee shop? Jeff and Annie believed in their idea, but the sharks were not sure. They thought most people would rather go to a law office for serious legal help. Kevin O’Leary had a different concern. He thought the pitch felt more like a performance than a real business plan. He wanted to see strong numbers and proof that the business could grow.
Since he didn’t see that, he decided not to invest. In the end, all five sharks backed out. They liked the idea but didn’t believe it could become a big, successful business. Jeff and Annie left without a deal.
Product Availability
Legal Grind started as a coffee shop that offered legal services. Customers could come in, have coffee, and talk to a lawyer about their legal problems. It was meant to be a comfortable place for people who needed legal advice but didn’t want to go to a law firm. At Legal Grind, lawyers gave advice on many topics. This included things like family law, landlord-tenant disputes, small business issues, and other common legal matters.
People liked the idea of getting legal help in a relaxed setting. Over the years Jeff and Annie tried to expand their business. They wanted to open more locations. They hoped that franchising would help them grow. But franchising turned out to be harder than they expected. Running a legal business is complex. Finding the right lawyers, following all the laws, and keeping the business running smoothly took a lot of work.
Even though the coffee shop eventually closed, Jeff didn’t stop helping people. He moved his legal services online. Today, he offers legal advice through a website. Customers can still connect with lawyers, but instead of meeting at a coffee shop, they can get help online. Legal Grind is no longer a physical coffee shop, but its mission continues. People who need legal advice can still reach out to Jeff. His website helps match people with lawyers in their area. This way, Jeff continues to make legal services more accessible, even without a coffee shop.
Conclusion
Legal Grind started as a creative idea to make legal services more accessible. Jeff and Annie combined their love for coffee with their passion for helping people. They went on Shark Tank hoping to grow their business. They asked for $200,000 for 15% of their company. But the sharks had concerns. They worried about the business model, the legal risks, and the challenges of franchising.
In the end, none of the sharks invested. After Shark Tank, Legal Grind continued for a while. But franchising proved too difficult and in 2021 the last coffee shop closed. However, Jeff still helps people with legal issues through an online platform. While the business changed, the mission stayed the same. The story of Legal Grind shows how tough it can be to grow a business.
Even with a good idea, challenges can make it hard to succeed. But Jeff and Annie didn’t give up. They found new ways to keep their mission alive.

Hey there, it’s Andaleb Youns. I am a freelance content writer and am currently pursuing a BS in English Language and Literature. I have expertise in writing Blog Posts, social media content, and copywriting. I know how it feels to be a student and still be dependent on parents to fulfill even basic daily needs. This realization became apparent while watching Shark Tank. Although I started watching this show out of boredom, it proved to be an inspirational show. The show made me realize the importance of hard work, being independent, and of having a business of my own. I still look forward to it for entertaining and inspirational content.