How can we get good legal advice without exceeding a startup's budget?

I agree with Prateek Jindal, and would add the following. It is key to understand what your top priorities are in building your business. Some form of incorporation is likely needed. It would be best to consult with a corporate attorney to understand which structure is appropriate for your business plan. If you have a novel technology, then patents may need to be high on your list of importance because you face the potential loss of rights if you do not file patent applications before publicly disclosing or selling your invention, or the like. Other areas of IP like trademarks and copyrights can often be dealt with later. It is best to seek out a law firm that 1) has a reputation of working with startups, and 2) has attorneys under one roof that can advise you in the legal areas that you have identified as being the top priority (e.g., a corporate and intellectual property firm). That makes coordination between the attorneys from different practice areas much easier because they are just down the hall from each other. It also makes your time more efficient in your interactions with the firm. And you need to spend as little time as possible on legal matters, with most of your focus on building the business.