Virtual Law Practice

Tag: cost-effective

  • Mid-Year Review – Virtual Law Practice in the News

    Virtual law practice has been a hot topic in the press repeatedly over the first half of 2009.  There have been articles about virtual law practices in its many different forms, from web-based solo practices to remote BigLaw attorney collaboration.  The use of software as a service (SaaS) technology and talk of practicing law “in the cloud” have been discussed in legal blogs and other publications.

    Companies such as Rocket Matter, Clio, Directlaw, Lexbe, VLOTech and others are encouraging the legal profession to consider the use of technology to deliver legal services online or to take a portion of their law practice management virtual.  The efficiency and cost-savings to both the attorneys using the technology and to the general public is showing as the popularity of virtual law practice in its various forms increases.   The ethics and malpractice risks associated with practicing law online are also being discussed as the legal profession learns to adopt to the changes that are taking place.  It’s an exciting time to be involved in law practice management and to operate a virtual law practice.

    As a resource, I’ve compiled links to articles that have come out in the past six months or so regarding virtual law practice.  These are in no particular order and I’m sure there are more out there.  Please drop me a comment to share.

    Does the Future Belong to Virtual Law Firms?, The American Lawyer, Law.com, Legal Technology, August 3, 2009

    How Virtual Lawyers Are Weathering the Recession, The Times, July 30, 2009

    Virtual Law Partners Hires Four Attorneys, JDJournal, Jun 30, 2009

    Virtual Law Firms Going Viral, by Carolyn Elefant, June 26, 2009, Law.com Legal Blog Watch

    Virtual Law Practice: A Passing Trend or the Wave of the Future?, by Aviva Culyer and Nicole Black, GP Solo Magazine, Volume 26, Number 4, June 2009

    More virtual law firms sprout up, by Mitch Kowalski, National Post, June 26, 2009
    Law firms boost their image and client base by going social, Long Island Business News, July 9, 2009

    The Nuts and Bolts of a Virtual Law Office, by Chuck Newton, Texas Bar Journal, June 2009

    More legal issues when working in the cloud, by Carolyn Elefant, Law.com Legal Blog Watch, July 8, 2009
    Best  Practices for Virtual Law Firms, by Richard Granat, eLawyering Blog, January 10, 2009
    Virtual Law Firms Stay Afloat in Tough Times, Fulton County Daily Report, Law.com, Legal Technology, May 6, 2009
    Richard Susskind’s keynote presentation at the April 2009 ABA TECHSHOW discussed disruptive technology changing the face of the legal profession.
    Law Firm Websites that Work, “Virtuality”, ABA Journal, April 2009
    Virtual Courthouse Wins 2009 ABA Brown Award for Legal Access
    Law Practice Management in the Cloud, by Nicole Black, Practicing Law in the 21st Century Blog, May 12, 2009
    Practicing Law with SaaS, by By Luigi Benetton, Canadian Bar Association’s National Magazine, Winter 2009
    Cloud  Cover: Software as a Service enables virtual law practice management, by Luigi Benetton, Canadian Bar Association’s National Magazine, June 2009
    Why Going Home To Go To Work May Be Just What Your Client Wants,by Susan Cartier Liebel, Build a Solo Practice, LLC, June 22, 2009
    The Cloud Explained, by Larry Port of Rocket Matter, Findlaw Legal Tech Center, 2009
    Lawyers find meaning floating on the Tag Cloud, by David Bilinski, Thoughtful Legal Management Blog, June 9, 2009

  • Congrats to the Virtual Courthouse

    Congratulations goes out to the Virtual Courthouse for receiving the 2009 ABA Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access.  Each year the ABA gives out the Brown Award to recognize projects or programs that have addressed the need for legal services to members of the public who are in the middle class or of moderate means.  The project must not only have exhibited an innovative solution to delivering legal services to the public but also be replicable for others in the legal profession.  Since this year’s winner provides an unique virtual solution to a specific area of law practice, I thought I’d share it with this blog’s readers.

    The Virtual Courthouse provides an online method of dispute resolution. According to its website the Virtual Courthouse “enables parties to submit disputed claims, responses and supporting material in digital form for resolution by a neutral provider of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services. These ADR services can include arbitration, mediation, neutral case evaluation or a settlement conference by members of a panel of neutrals.”  There are screenshots of the technology on the website, but not many details regarding data security or the actual technology behind the solution.

    This company is a good example of how attorneys are finding ways to integrate different forms of virtual law practice into their traditional practice methods to provide the public with access to more affordable and convenient legal services.  If your practice includes ADR and you have considered adding a virtual component to your practice, then you may want to check this out.

    The ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services also recognized Heisler, Feldman, McCormick & Garrow, PC and Have Justice Will Travel for their law practice methods.

  • Taking Advantage of the Economic Downturn

    Attorneys considering opening a virtual law practice should take a look at Susan Cartier Liebel’s recent blog post “Is Now The Perfect Time To Start Your Solo Practice?”  The post is motivational and gives great examples of why and how attorneys may make the most of the economic downturn to create innovative law practices. 

    Along those lines, I just finished writing a post on the VLOTech blog about how web-based virtual law offices are the ideal way for a solo or small firm practitioner to turn a bad situation into a growing law practice.  From low overhead to providing more cost-effective and efficient services, VLOs are a great way to serve clients who are seeking out convenient and affordable legal assistance.  This is also a good way to build client loyalty and grow your virtual practice through referrals.

    I’ve seen an increase in my virtual law practice client base since this summer.  Many of my clients, especially the estate planning clients with families, are very upfront with me.  They can’t afford a traditional law practice.  They can’t take the time off work to go in for multiple appointments in a law office.  Or they don’t want the added cost of paying for child care while they meet with a paralegal or attorney in person.  They need flexibility in payment methods and the ability to pay online with a credit card or through Paypal.  They need to be able to work with me online on their own time even if that is at 1:00am in the morning. 

    How do I think attorneys can take advantage of the economic downturn?  Respectfully understand your clients’ economic concerns and give them what they need in this difficult time.  With my web-based VLO, I have more flexibility in my practice and it doesn’t hurt my bottom line.  Efficient and affordable customer service will create client loyalty that will continue in good times and grow your virtual law practice over the years.

  • Creating a Virtual Law Practice

    As an attorney, I believe that quality legal services should be available to all citizens regardless of their income levels. Many times clients are unable or unwilling to pay hundreds of dollars per billable hour to meet with an attorney in person when they have only general legal questions or need basic legal guidance. I created Kimbro Legal Services, LLC at www.kimbrolaw.com as a way to provide North Carolina citizens with affordable, limited legal services. I believe that kimbrolaw.com may be the first completely virtual law firm in North Carolina. A NC Bar Ethics Opinion passed in January, 2006 allowing virtual law practices, but I have been developing the concept for this website and firm for a couple years now.

    Why create a virtual law firm?

    First, the number of pro se litigants has been rising and courts are increasingly faced with the challenges and strains this increase creates both legally and administratively on the court systems. Many pro se litigants exist because they cannot afford to retain an attorney. A 2003 American Bar Association’s Report of the Modest Means Task Force stated that one method by which attorneys can improve the fairness of the American legal system is to provide limited legal services “to people who cannot afford ‘full-service’ representation.” Handbook on Limited Scope Legal Assistance, A Report of the Modest Means Task Force, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, 2003.

    Second, without the high overhead costs of a physical law office, Kimbro Legal Services provides clients with limited legal counseling and assistance in civil matters, including the preparation of basic legal documents, such as Partnership and Operating Agreements for small businesses, Residential and Commercial Lease Agreements, Estate Planning materials, Estate Administration forms, and other contracts and agreements prepared in accordance with North Carolina Law. I am just beginning to build the law firm’s business, but I am highly optimistic that it will be a productive method of providing cost-effective and efficient legal services for people who have questions about North Carolina law.

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