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How to Create a Virtual Law Practice
1. The Virtual Law Firm:
How to Build Your
Practice in an Online
World
The Center forThe Center for
Law Practice TechnologyLaw Practice Technology
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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.
8. 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
9. More Benefits
Increase law firm productivity and
profitability.
Enhance to client experience.
Reduce telephone-tag.
Enable a more integrated lawyer/client
relationship.
99
10. II. On-Line Legal Services:
Examples
Solos and Small Law Firms
Large Law Firms
Corporate Law
Departments
The Non-Profit Sector
1010
11. 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. 13
Complete?Complete?Next questionNext questionNext questionNext questionNext questionNext question
Documents that Assemble Themselves
Ready for Lawyer Review
13
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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
15. 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
16. IV. Practicalities
How do you make it happen?
How much does it cost?
Cloud Computing and SaaS
Needs Analysis.
1616
17. 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
18. 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
19. 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
20. 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
21. 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.
22. 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.
Examples of client facing applications delivered from a secure client portal
What a secure client portal could look like- example Granat Legal Services
Marc and or Richard explain the significance of web-enabled document automation and how it could work. Doc automation has been around for many years, primarily a desktop app whose focus is on the professional user NOT the direct consumer/SME