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This is the slide deck from the ABA LPM eLawyering Task Force web conference with Marc Lauritsen, Richard Granat and Stephanie Kimbro. September 27, 2011
Citation preview
Virtual Law Practice: Basic Concepts
Law Practice Management Section, ABALaw Practice Management Section, ABAeLawyering Task ForceeLawyering Task Force
September 27, 2011September 27, 2011
Faculty
Marc Lauritsen, President, Capstone Practice Systems, Co-Chair, eLawyering Task Force, LPM/ABA. Moderator
Stephanie L. Kimbro, JD, Kimbro Legal Services, LLC, Founder, Virtual Law Office Technology, Tech Consultant for Total Attorneys
Richard S. Granat, Partner, Granat Legal, Washington, D.C., Co-Chair, eLawyering Task Force, LPM/ABA, CEO, DirectLaw, Inc.
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I. Introduction: The Basics
What is a “virtual law firm”?What is “eLawyering”?What a “virtual law firm” isn’tExamples of On-Line Legal ServicesWhat is driving the interest in this
concept?
33
What is a Virtual Law Firm? 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
Username:Password:
LOGIN
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.”
An online website that sells legal documents without attorney review, such as LegalZoom and other web-based companies selling online legal forms.
A law firm website with an email “contact us for a free quote” form for prospective clients.
Communication by email even if sent through a law firm’s website
A rented physical office that may be shared with other professionals along with a receptionist service
VPNs, extranets and other services, such as GoToPC and LogMeIn
A conglomeration of attorneys in remote locations pooling resources and communicating over the Internet
A law practice based in a virtual reality world, such as Second Life55
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 or Purchase legal advice online by telephone or
email;email;Store their legal documents online;Store their legal documents online;Collaborate with their attorneys online through Collaborate with their attorneys online through
threaded discussions which are archived.threaded discussions which are archived.Access legal information, web advisors, and Access 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
Benefits of SaaS
Security
Regular data backups, geo-redundancy of servers Level of security at a Tier4 Data Center is far greater than the
resources a typical law office could afford for security of law office data.
Data stored on the server is encrypted, same high level of security used by banking and government institutions
Economic Lower overhead costsLess expensive than paying for software, storage, and server hardware and having to run it internally with or without hiring an IT professional for the officeStreamline your practice for greater efficiency
More Benefits
Increase law firm productivity and profitability.
Enhance to client experience. Reduce telephone-tag.Enable a more integrated lawyer/client
relationship.
1010
II. On-Line Legal Services: Examples
Solos and Small Law FirmsLarge Law FirmsCorporate Law DepartmentsThe Non-Profit Sector
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On-Line Legal Service Applications
Web-enabled document automationWeb Advisors – e..g. Chapter 13
Calculator.Legal Advice On-LineLegal Document ReviewCourt Coaching for Pro Se ClientsCollaboration and CommunicationSearchable and linkable legal library for
clients. 1212
Example of a Client Portal
14
Complete?Complete?Next questionNext questionNext questionNext questionNext questionNext question
Documents that Assemble Themselves Ready for Lawyer Review
14
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Last Will & Testament
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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
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culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
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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
Practice Management Applications
Case CalendarConflicts of Interest CheckingJurisdiction check to avoid UPLDocument ArchivingBilling and Invoices ManagementOn-Line Bill Payment by Credit CardContact Management
1515
Attorney Side – Virtual Law Office
1616
Large firm services
Nonprofit sites
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
2020
Due Diligence & Reasonable Care
Model Rule 1.6(a), "Confidentiality of Information“
Comment 17 provides that lawyers must “act competently” to safeguard confidential information and prevent it from going to unintended recipients during the transmission.
Most State Bars’ Rules of Professional Responsibility have the “reasonable care” standard.
Conduct due diligence in researching both the provider and the technology application.
Confidentiality of law office data Who has access? Government and civil search and seizure actions Breach of confidentiality – unlimited liability for data breaches?
Research the SaaS Provider & Review the SLA
Data return and retention policies Transferring Data/Compatibility Issues
Backups Export features and/or offline versions of the software
Third-party hosting Server locations and geo-redundancy
Response time/customer service and tech support Costs – Subscriptions, what is included History of the company
Financial history or funding of company Current user reviews Infrastructure to support growth Membership in LCCA and/or ILTSO compliant
Legal vs. Public SaaS
For Guidance
ILTSO Standards (April 2011): www.iltso.org Proposed NC FEO 6 (2011) PA FEO 2010-200 (2010) eLawyering Task Force Guidelines (2011) Law Society of British Columbia’s Working
Group Report on Cloud Computing (Summer 2011)
Legal Cloud Computing Association (LCCA)
Minimize Risk
It is the responsibility of the attorney operating a virtual law office to do the following: Make the determination on a case by case basis:
Can I competently handle this legal matter online or does it require in-person representation?
Understand the technology and the security risks
Implement daily best practices for use of the hardware, especially mobile devices, and software applications
IV. Practicalities
How do you make it happen?How much does it cost?Cloud Computing and SaaSNeeds Analysis
2525
Costs of a Virtual Law Office
Front End Web Site- Hosting and DesignClient 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.
2626
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 InstallEast to ImplementEthically CompliantTotally SecureSubscription-basedPlugs Into Your Existing Web Site.
2727
V. Marketing Legal Services Online
New Market OpportunitiesDefining a NicheClient-centric web siteHow to make your web site findable!!Role of Social Media in Brand BuildingBuilding an On-Line Brand
2828
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-savvy How do you reach web-savvy clients?clients?
You have to learn how to deliver legal services over the You 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 the Requires 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 “online The web site as a way for your firm to create an “online
brand.”brand.” If you are not getting clients off the Internet, you are If 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.
Pure Play Virtual Law Practice
Difficult to pull off unless you have a specific niche that you can expand on through your web site.
Need to have a web that can be found on the web through the search engines.
Need to understand how to drive traffic to you web site and convert visitors into paying clients.
3232
• Differentiation• Remarkable• Client experience
BUILDING A
STRONG BRANDONLINE
Where are you? How will your firm integrate elawyering
into practice management? Will you unbundle legal services online? Will you provide secure online client access for in-
person clients? Will you cultivate an entirely online client base?
Future innovations in the delivery of legal services will include more applications to
allow the public to directly interact with their attorney online.
Learn More ABA ELawyering Task Force: http://www.elawyering.com Other online resources: eLawyering Blog by Richard Granat
http://elawyeringredux.com Virtual Law Practice Blog by Stephanie Kimbro
http://virtuallawpractice.org The Virtual Law Firm Learning Center
http://www.directlaw.com/learningcenter.asp Unbundling Resource Center – American Bar Association
Books: Virtual Law Practice: How to Deliver Legal Services Online,
ABA/LPM by Stephanie Kimbro The Lawyer's Guide to Working Smarter with Knowledge Tools,
ABA/LPM by Marc Lauritsen3535