Lawyers don't get equity for a tech startup. Period.
If, on the other hand, your startup is in a heavily litigious or heavily regulated field, you not only will want a lawyer involved from very early, you'll probably want a lawyer holding a stake in your company.
So...for example, an equities or futures trading company: the lawyer gets equity. Equities or futures social networking site: the lawyer gets paid a fee.
Or, medical mal-practice hedge fund (I dunno, I'm just making up a phrase from words that involves lots of litigation and huge smelly contracts): you need a lawyer on your board. Medical Mal the Practical Hedgehog video game: the lawyer gets paid a fee.
Got it? Good.
Incorporation costs a few hundred bucks (even if you get outside help), plus a few hundred bucks for statutory representation in Delaware.