How to Create a Virtual Law Practice

The Virtual Law Firm:
How to Build Your
Practice in an Online
World
The Center forThe Center for
Law Practice TechnologyLaw Practice Technology

Faculty
 Marc Lauritsen, President,
Capstone Practice Systems, Co-Chair,
eLawyering Task Force, LPM/ABA. Moderator
 Stephanie L. Kimbro, JD,
Kimbro Legal Services, Wilmington, NC.,
Founder, Virtual Law Office Technology.
 Richard S. Granat, Partner, Granat Legal,
Washington, D.C., Co-Chair, eLawyering Task
Force, LPM/ABA, CEO, DirectLaw, Inc.
 William Hornsby, Counsel, ABA Standing
Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services22

I. Introduction: The Basics
What is a “virtual law firm”?
What is “eLawyering”?
What a “virtual law firm” isn’t
Examples of On-Line Legal Services.
What is driving the interest in this
concept?
33

What is a Virtual Law Office?
a “virtual law firm” is characterized by
access by the firm’s clients to a password
protected and secure web space where
both the attorney and client may interact
and legal services consumed by the client.
More specifically it can be defined as
having a secure client portal that is
accessible from the law firm’s web site.
44

What a “virtual law firm” is not!
A law firm without a physical office,
sometimes called a “virtual law firm.”
A law firm that uses web-based back-
office practice management tools and
applications is not a “virtual law firm.”
By our definition, virtual lawyering and
elawyering are one and the same and they
always involve the actual delivery of legal
services over the Web.
55

What is eLawyering?
 Marc Lauritsen, co-chair of the eLawyering Task Force of the Law
Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association has
succinctly defined eLawyering as:
 “[E- Lawyering is] all the ways in which lawyers can do their work
using the Web and associated technologies. These include new
ways to communicate and collaborate with clients, prospective
clients and other lawyers, produce documents, settle disputes and
manage legal knowledge. Think of a lawyering verb—interview,
investigate, counsel, draft, advocate, analyze, negotiate, manage
and so forth—and there are corresponding electronic tools and
techniques.”
 eLawyering or virtual lawyering requires that a client be able to log
in to a secure web space with a user name and password where
they can access the firm’s legal services. 66

On-Line Legal ServicesOn-Line Legal Services
 A “virtual law firm” enables clients to:A “virtual law firm” enables clients to:
Assemble legal documents over the web;Assemble legal documents over the web;
Purchase legal advice online by telephone orPurchase legal advice online by telephone or
email;email;
Store their legal documents online;Store their legal documents online;
Collaborate with their attorneys online throughCollaborate with their attorneys online through
threaded discussions which are archived.threaded discussions which are archived.
Access legal information, web advisors, andAccess legal information, web advisors, and
intelligent calculators.intelligent calculators.

Benefits of a Virtual Law Firm
Capture new clients who are part of the
“latent market for legal services” who don’t
use lawyers;
Deliver “limited legal services” on-line.
Capture web-savvy clients who are
members of the “connected generation”
who expect to relate to their lawyers “on-
line.”
88

More Benefits
Increase law firm productivity and
profitability.
Enhance to client experience.
Reduce telephone-tag.
Enable a more integrated lawyer/client
relationship.
99

II. On-Line Legal Services:
Examples
Solos and Small Law Firms
Large Law Firms
Corporate Law
Departments
The Non-Profit Sector
1010

On-Line Legal Service
Applications
Web-enabled document automation
Web Advisors – e..g. Chapter 13
Calculator.
Legal Advice On-Line
Legal Document Review
Court Coaching for Pro Se Clients
Collaboration and Communication
Searchable and linkable legal library for
clients. 1111

13
Complete?Complete?Next questionNext questionNext questionNext questionNext questionNext question
Documents that Assemble Themselves
Ready for Lawyer Review
13
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Last Will & Testament
aliqua.
You don't just ‘fill out’ an automated document – you create it.
The answers you enter create a custom legal document, built from a library of state-specific and relevant legal
text, that is tailored to client’s specific facts.

 

 
 
Start Finish

Practice Management
Applications
Case Calendar
Conflicts of Interest Checking
Jurisdiction check to avoid UPL
Document Archiving
Billing and Invoices Management
On-Line Bill Payment by Credit Card
Contact Management
1414

III. Ethical Issues
 Client Development Issues
 Multi-state compliance
 Pitfalls – trade names, stock art, filing/screening obligations
 Creating the lawyer-client relationship
 Duties to prospective clients
 Click-wrap as a manifestation of consent
 UPL
 Conflicts
 Competent representation – verifying the client’s identity
 Limited scope of representation
 Confidentiality
 Payment for services
1515

IV. Practicalities
How do you make it happen?
How much does it cost?
Cloud Computing and SaaS
Needs Analysis.
1616

Costs of a Virtual Law Office
Front End Web Site- Hosting and Design
Client Portal
Vendor pricing ranges from $49.00 to $299.00
a month depending on complexity.
Web-Based Practice Management Solutions.
Approximately $49.00 per attorney per month.
1717

Typical Virtual Law Firm SaaS
Offering- What to look for?
No Up-Front Capital Investment or small
set-up fee.
No software or Hardware to Install
East to Implement
Ethically Compliant
Totally Secure
Subscription-based
Plugs Into Your Existing Web Site.
1818

Vendor Selection
Do It Your Self- meaning programming a
virtual law office is cost prohibitive.
The Software as a Service Solution
(SaaS) – Benefits.
What to look for in a SaaS Vendor
generally.
Needs Analysis.
1919

V. Marketing Legal Services
Online
New Market Opportunities
Defining a Niche
Client-centric web site
How to make your web site findable!!
Role of Social Media in Brand Building
Building an On-Line Brand
2020

Latent Market for Legal Services
 50% of middle income households in the US have at least one legal
problem per year
 Only 20% seek legal assistance from attorneys.
 26% do nothing at all.
 Increasing percentage of consumers seek alternatives to lawyers
such as self-help.
E.g., Nolo and LegalZoom
 Potentially huge market waiting to be tapped in the US for personal
consumer legal services.

How do you reach web-savvyHow do you reach web-savvy
clients?clients?
 You have to learn how to deliver legal services over theYou have to learn how to deliver legal services over the
Internet and create an “online” brand.Internet and create an “online” brand.
 Requires an interactive web site which support theRequires an interactive web site which support the
“virtual practice of law.”“virtual practice of law.”
 More than a passive web site.More than a passive web site.
 The web site as the “front-door” of your law practice.The web site as the “front-door” of your law practice.
 The web site as a way for your firm to create an “onlineThe web site as a way for your firm to create an “online
brand.”brand.”
 If you are not getting clients off the Internet, you areIf you are not getting clients off the Internet, you are
missing part of the market in your territory.missing part of the market in your territory.

• Differentiation
• Remarkable
• Client experience
BUILDING A
STRONG BRAND
ONLINE

How to Create a Virtual Law Practice

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