The document outlines the concept of virtual law firms and elawyering, defining a virtual law firm as one that allows secure online interactions between clients and attorneys through a dedicated portal. It discusses the benefits of such firms, including lower overhead costs, enhanced client experience, and accessibility for web-savvy clients. Ethical considerations and practicalities of setting up and marketing virtual legal services are also emphasized, highlighting the need for technological competence and informed decision-making in legal representation.

1. Virtual Law Practice: Basic Concepts Law Practice Management Section, ABA eLawyering Task Force September 27, 2011

2. 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 .

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?

4. 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. Username: Password: LOGIN

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.” 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 Life

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.

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

9. 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 costs Less expensive than paying for software, storage, and server hardware and having to run it internally with or without hiring an IT professional for the office Streamline your practice for greater efficiency

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

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

12. 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.

13. Example of a Client Portal

14.  Complete? Next question Next question Next question Documents that Assemble Themselves Ready for Lawyer Review Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. 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. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. 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15. 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

16. Attorney Side – Virtual Law Office

17. Large firm services

19. Nonprofit sites

20. 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

21. 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?

22. 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

23. 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)

24. 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

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

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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.

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

31. 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.

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

34. 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.

35. 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 Lauritsen