Defining virtual law practice and the delivery of legal services online by licensed professionals is becoming ever more important as the market continues to fill with companies offering various forms of online legal services. Two of the biggest concerns that surround these companies include the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) and misleading the public. Many of these entities do not provide attorney review of the legal documents that they sale online and are coming up against strong criticism for this aspect as well some of their marketing techniques. For example, the Connecticut Bar Association has formed a task force to review the websites that provide unbundled online legal services. According to the task force, their primary concern is for the consumer’s safety. Last year the North Carolina State Bar’s Authorized Practice Committee also investigated the services provided by LegalZoom claiming they constituted UPL by non-licensed professionals.
Let’s be clear: the Internet-based legal services companies facing criticism do not provide the same level of quality or security of a virtual law office. (more…)