The document discusses delivering legal services through a virtual law firm. It begins with an overview of MyCase, web-based legal practice management software that allows attorneys to run their firm virtually for $39/month. The rest of the document covers topics like the size of the US legal services market, how consumers are increasingly conducting tasks like banking and taxes online, different virtual law firm business models including completely web-based and hybrid models, marketing a virtual law firm through branding and online methods, and potential concerns around establishing attorney-client relationships and confidentiality online.
This is the updated and revised edition of the ebook, Practicing Law Online. This revised edition focuses on the business models of virtual law firms that have emerged and goes beyond solos and small firms to apply the business model to larger firms and in-house legal departments. The ebook walks the reader through the process of choosing a virtual law firm business model and examines methods of online delivery that work best with the firm’s practice area and client base.
These are the slides from my presentation to the ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services. I covered the basics of virtual law practice but also gamification, games, and online engagement for legal services. The video for this presentation is here: http://bcove.me/4tmkn2x1
Unbundled legal services, also called limited scope representation or discrete task representation, may be used by a variety of law practices from solos to large law firms to serve an large market of unmet legal needs. Technology exists to assist the attorney in streamlining the unbundling process by using document automation and assembly programs that make unbundling legal services a cost-effective form of delivering legal services to the public. However, attorneys providing limited scope representation should be aware of certain ethics risks and best practices. Whether unbundling is handled in a traditional firm setting or through the use of technology, attorneys should be aware of the benefits and risks of this complementary method of delivering legal services to their clients.
This is a presentation I gave to the South Carolina Law Review Symposium entitled: On Task?: Expanding the Boundaries of Legal Education, February 28, 2014.
This is the updated and revised edition of the ebook, Practicing Law Online. This revised edition focuses on the business models of virtual law firms that have emerged and goes beyond solos and small firms to apply the business model to larger firms and in-house legal departments. The ebook walks the reader through the process of choosing a virtual law firm business model and examines methods of online delivery that work best with the firm’s practice area and client base.
These are the slides from my presentation to the ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services. I covered the basics of virtual law practice but also gamification, games, and online engagement for legal services. The video for this presentation is here: http://bcove.me/4tmkn2x1
Unbundled legal services, also called limited scope representation or discrete task representation, may be used by a variety of law practices from solos to large law firms to serve an large market of unmet legal needs. Technology exists to assist the attorney in streamlining the unbundling process by using document automation and assembly programs that make unbundling legal services a cost-effective form of delivering legal services to the public. However, attorneys providing limited scope representation should be aware of certain ethics risks and best practices. Whether unbundling is handled in a traditional firm setting or through the use of technology, attorneys should be aware of the benefits and risks of this complementary method of delivering legal services to their clients.
This is a presentation I gave to the South Carolina Law Review Symposium entitled: On Task?: Expanding the Boundaries of Legal Education, February 28, 2014.
Carolyn Elefant, solo practitioner and founder of MyShingle.com, will lead a discussion with Joshua Lenon, Lawyer in Residence at Clio, and Daniel Gershburg, owner of Gershburg Law, on what lawyers need when starting a law firm. Topics will include:
Startup costs;
Real property alternatives for workspaces;
Marketing for no money;
Tech tools; and
Examples of special tools by practice areas.
Find your best UK Solicitor through Justvice Lawyers Listings. Browse our Solicitor Directory and find Top Rated Lawyers with reviews. UK Solicitors are welcome to join.
Learn how solo law firms should adapt to meet the needs of clients beyond the global pandemic.
As a future beyond the COVID-19 pandemic begins to loom, solo law firms should be asking, what will this mean for the future of legal practice? Lawyers and clients have adopted many new behaviors and new capabilities for remote work, and many of the associated advantages are likely to remain.
Based on highlights from Clio’s Legal Trends for Solo Law Firms report, this session will provide key strategies for adapting to shifts in client expectations.
https://www.clio.com/resources/legal-trends/2021-solo-report/
Social CRM - presented to the INCORPORATED GUILD FOR INTELLIGENCE-BASED COMMERCEArCompany
Social media has enabled behaviour that has resulted in an overwhelming volume of data -- so abundant in its velocity bringing with it insights that were never thought possible until now. Businesses need to see its power and determine how to harness it to forge stronger connections with the customer, and ultimately to drive to business results.
The application process when getting a job can either create a positive customer experience for your company's applicants or it can create a negative one. Chris will examine how the application process' importance is key to the beginning of excellent employee engagement and raving fans (even from those who do not get hired)/
Running (or starting) a law firm has never been simple—but today, firms face an especially unique set of challenges. Clients have higher standards for new tech-enabled communications, and many firms have shifted to distributed business operations and service models.
Whether you’re starting your own law firm or you’re already practicing at an established firm, being aware of these modern demands—and how to meet them—is essential.
Join this free 1-hour session with Emma Raimi-Zlatic, Clio’s Senior Affinity Partnerships Manager, and Amy Grubb, owner of a successful legal consulting firm, to learn what your law firm needs to not only survive—but thrive—this year and beyond.
In this free webinar, you’ll learn:
- Key business planning, registration, and budgeting essentials for modern law firms
- Strategies for building and marketing your unique firm brand
- Tips to implement a specialized intake experience that converts more clients
- Recommendations on how to leverage technology to support law firm growth
5 Key Steps to Drive with Fintech Customer JourneysDouglas Karr
Customer loyalty is waning in the financial industry as consumers are presented with a vast array of alternative offerings both on and offline. Careful research and design of customer journeys is having a positive impact on organizations to win, keep, and increase the value of prospects and customers. This is a webinar that I did on behalf of Salesforce.
Business Development Tool Kit Presentation for New Media ManitobaJay Powell
Ever notice how some of your greatest business relationships emerge from conversations that started with no expectations to do business at all? There is a science behind this starting with a genuine desire to understand what the other person needs, how you can help them, and by undisputed universal law - help yourself. :) So how do you get started? Go-Go-Gadget Business Development!
On Tuesday, Feb 11th 2014, New Media Manitoba presents a special New Media Business Development evening with expert Jay Powell of The Powell Group from North Carolina. Jay will share his methodology and tools for creating a plan to generate business, maintain great relationships, and how to create a solid plan of attack when attending conferences.
We will discuss:
How to track business relationships
Who should do Business Development and why
Recommended tools for Business Development and Customer Relationships
What tools to avoid, and why
When to start (hint: now)
How to start (hint: attend this presentation)
Social media integration that makes your clients [heart] you
Attendees will Learn:
How to get the most out of a conference when building new business
How to maintain your network post-conference
5 important things to remember when developing your elevator pitch - and when to use it
Tools for all aspects of New Media Business Development
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in various parts of the country, you’re no doubt facing uncertainties surrounding how and when to reopen your law firm. You’re also likely wondering about the future of your law firm and its book of business. One way to abate those concerns is to prioritize preparing your firm for whatever may come. Whether it’s a pandemic or economic downturn, pre-emptive protocols and a strong technology foundation will help you maintain business continuity in the event of future disruption. Is your firm ready? If not, there’s no better time to ensure that you’re protected.
In ever-evolving and stressful circumstances, legal professionals who have transitioned to a remote working environment are finding themselves at odds with new distractions, time management hurdles, and burnout. To help attorneys combat the emerging challenges associated with working away from the office for the first time, Founder of Real Life Practice Nora Bergman offers expert advice on how to remain focused and on task as individuals with regard to your mental health.
Carolyn Elefant, solo practitioner and founder of MyShingle.com, will lead a discussion with Joshua Lenon, Lawyer in Residence at Clio, and Daniel Gershburg, owner of Gershburg Law, on what lawyers need when starting a law firm. Topics will include:
Startup costs;
Real property alternatives for workspaces;
Marketing for no money;
Tech tools; and
Examples of special tools by practice areas.
Find your best UK Solicitor through Justvice Lawyers Listings. Browse our Solicitor Directory and find Top Rated Lawyers with reviews. UK Solicitors are welcome to join.
Learn how solo law firms should adapt to meet the needs of clients beyond the global pandemic.
As a future beyond the COVID-19 pandemic begins to loom, solo law firms should be asking, what will this mean for the future of legal practice? Lawyers and clients have adopted many new behaviors and new capabilities for remote work, and many of the associated advantages are likely to remain.
Based on highlights from Clio’s Legal Trends for Solo Law Firms report, this session will provide key strategies for adapting to shifts in client expectations.
https://www.clio.com/resources/legal-trends/2021-solo-report/
Social CRM - presented to the INCORPORATED GUILD FOR INTELLIGENCE-BASED COMMERCEArCompany
Social media has enabled behaviour that has resulted in an overwhelming volume of data -- so abundant in its velocity bringing with it insights that were never thought possible until now. Businesses need to see its power and determine how to harness it to forge stronger connections with the customer, and ultimately to drive to business results.
The application process when getting a job can either create a positive customer experience for your company's applicants or it can create a negative one. Chris will examine how the application process' importance is key to the beginning of excellent employee engagement and raving fans (even from those who do not get hired)/
Running (or starting) a law firm has never been simple—but today, firms face an especially unique set of challenges. Clients have higher standards for new tech-enabled communications, and many firms have shifted to distributed business operations and service models.
Whether you’re starting your own law firm or you’re already practicing at an established firm, being aware of these modern demands—and how to meet them—is essential.
Join this free 1-hour session with Emma Raimi-Zlatic, Clio’s Senior Affinity Partnerships Manager, and Amy Grubb, owner of a successful legal consulting firm, to learn what your law firm needs to not only survive—but thrive—this year and beyond.
In this free webinar, you’ll learn:
- Key business planning, registration, and budgeting essentials for modern law firms
- Strategies for building and marketing your unique firm brand
- Tips to implement a specialized intake experience that converts more clients
- Recommendations on how to leverage technology to support law firm growth
5 Key Steps to Drive with Fintech Customer JourneysDouglas Karr
Customer loyalty is waning in the financial industry as consumers are presented with a vast array of alternative offerings both on and offline. Careful research and design of customer journeys is having a positive impact on organizations to win, keep, and increase the value of prospects and customers. This is a webinar that I did on behalf of Salesforce.
Business Development Tool Kit Presentation for New Media ManitobaJay Powell
Ever notice how some of your greatest business relationships emerge from conversations that started with no expectations to do business at all? There is a science behind this starting with a genuine desire to understand what the other person needs, how you can help them, and by undisputed universal law - help yourself. :) So how do you get started? Go-Go-Gadget Business Development!
On Tuesday, Feb 11th 2014, New Media Manitoba presents a special New Media Business Development evening with expert Jay Powell of The Powell Group from North Carolina. Jay will share his methodology and tools for creating a plan to generate business, maintain great relationships, and how to create a solid plan of attack when attending conferences.
We will discuss:
How to track business relationships
Who should do Business Development and why
Recommended tools for Business Development and Customer Relationships
What tools to avoid, and why
When to start (hint: now)
How to start (hint: attend this presentation)
Social media integration that makes your clients [heart] you
Attendees will Learn:
How to get the most out of a conference when building new business
How to maintain your network post-conference
5 important things to remember when developing your elevator pitch - and when to use it
Tools for all aspects of New Media Business Development
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in various parts of the country, you’re no doubt facing uncertainties surrounding how and when to reopen your law firm. You’re also likely wondering about the future of your law firm and its book of business. One way to abate those concerns is to prioritize preparing your firm for whatever may come. Whether it’s a pandemic or economic downturn, pre-emptive protocols and a strong technology foundation will help you maintain business continuity in the event of future disruption. Is your firm ready? If not, there’s no better time to ensure that you’re protected.
In ever-evolving and stressful circumstances, legal professionals who have transitioned to a remote working environment are finding themselves at odds with new distractions, time management hurdles, and burnout. To help attorneys combat the emerging challenges associated with working away from the office for the first time, Founder of Real Life Practice Nora Bergman offers expert advice on how to remain focused and on task as individuals with regard to your mental health.
As the COVID-19 epidemic hits its projected peak in many parts of the United States, law firms face significant changes in the way they operate financially and operationally. In our recent webinar panel, attorneys Todd Spodek, Al Provinziano, and Mark Metzger shared their unique experiences of securing their businesses financially and operationally to withstand the economic uncertainties of the pandemic.
In times of unprecedented business disruption, it can be challenging to keep your firm’s day-to-day operations on track. However, clients need assurance their cases are still being handled, your staff needs to work in sync to remain productive, and your firm needs to keep its cash flow moving.
You can’t wing it when it comes to law firm financials. In order to run a successful law firm, you need to be numbers-oriented and vigilant in deriving insights from your performance. Your finances have to run on rails. To that end, visibility into your firm’s revenue, accounts receivable, and cash flow are your gateway to increased profitability.
You can’t wing it when it comes to law firm financials. In order to run a successful small law firm, you need to become a numbers guy, or gal. Your finances have to run on rails; you have to remain in control. To that end, visibility into your firm’s profitability, billing productivity and account receivables are your gateways to increased revenue.
Law firms spend a significant amount of time and money attracting new clients, but many struggle to manage them beyond the initial touchpoint. Implementing a strong lead and intake process can help your firm convert more referrals into paying clients, grow monthly revenue, and lower the cost to acquire clients.
Want to grow your firm? Historically, you could charge more per hour or hire an associate. But what if there was a third way? Technology facilitates access to high-quality legal expertise at a surprisingly reasonable cost. Using freelance and contract legal help, you can do more work, grow your firm, and help more clients.
Whether at the end of the day or the end of the month, hard-working lawyers often look back and wonder why their billable time just doesn’t seem to measure up to all the long hours they spend in the office. Discover ways to detect holes in your system, as well as how to develop patches for the recurring leaks you have known about and struggled with for years.
On-premise legal software can be traced back to major inefficiencies in the way modern law firms are managed - often subjecting attorneys to more technological and financial grief than inherent value. In this presentation, we walk you through the considerations of on-premise vs. cloud-based solutions for your law firm.
Law firms usually view technology as being grafted onto existing, offline office systems. But, reformatting your law practice based on the features of a law practice management system is a coherent and effective way to build a better law firm.
Law practice demands are tough, especially in the digital age. Clients want more for less, and thus running an efficient law practice is more important than ever. Automating tasks can help you save time, reduce mistakes, enhance client service, and improve your bottom line (and maybe even give you time to take a break).
Social Media can be a powerful marketing tool for your law firm. But without a macro strategy in place or an understanding of the ethical implications of posting online, you may find yourself losing money or even violating statutory prohibitions.
Perhaps you're generating interest and traffic from online marketing, but are having a hard time converting it into paying clients. In this webinar, we explore some of the most common issues preventing lawyers from turning traffic into clients.
Since its 26.2 billion dollar acquisition by Microsoft at the end of 2016, we've begun to see an awakening by skeptics and users alike as to the possibilities that lie within LinkedIn to stand up and stand out. Many attorneys are turning to the revamped platform to connect with clients, potential clients, influencers, and others important to the growth of their practice.
Practicing at the top of your law license means that you’re doing those creative things that lawyers get paid the most money for. It means you’re not getting paid to answer phone calls. You’re not getting paid to schedule appointments with clients. You’re not getting paid to get coffee for someone. You’re ARE getting paid to do the high level creative work that lawyers do: creating strategies, crafting briefs, and in some cases conducting legal research.
Billing by the hour, though seemingly more profitable for law firms, presents a compounding conflict of interest between an attorney and their clients. For this reason, many lawyers celebrate the transition to a packaged flat-fee billing model — introducing predictability, incentive to make progress, and even a competitive advantage for their firms.
Whether you’ve been worn down by attrition or are making a conscientious effort to modernize your firm, get ready to wipe away any lingering reluctance in moving your practice to the cloud.
Rainmaking is simple, but it’s not easy. It takes deliberate actions on your part as an attorney to create the practice of your dreams. And it all starts with a plan. Build and execute your own rainmaking plan, tailored to your life and your career to make 2018 the best year ever!
Is it possible to improve your law practice and your life at the same time?Yes! You really can increase your productivity and improve your practice and your life. Every day, lawyers help to change their clients’ lives for the better. But all too often, you can lose sight of this reality and get caught up in your hectic daily routine.
Now, it’s time for you to change your life for the better.
Join MyCase and Nora Bergman, law firm business coach and author of “50 Lessons for Lawyers,” for a free legal webinar: “Simple Lessons to Improve Your Law Practice and Your Life.”
More from MyCase Legal Case and Practice Management Software (20)
Military Commissions details LtCol Thomas Jasper as Detailed Defense CounselThomas (Tom) Jasper
Military Commissions Trial Judiciary, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Notice of the Chief Defense Counsel's detailing of LtCol Thomas F. Jasper, Jr. USMC, as Detailed Defense Counsel for Abd Al Hadi Al-Iraqi on 6 August 2014 in the case of United States v. Hadi al Iraqi (10026)
Car Accident Injury Do I Have a Case....Knowyourright
Every year, thousands of Minnesotans are injured in car accidents. These injuries can be severe – even life-changing. Under Minnesota law, you can pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
A "File Trademark" is a legal term referring to the registration of a unique symbol, logo, or name used to identify and distinguish products or services. This process provides legal protection, granting exclusive rights to the trademark owner, and helps prevent unauthorized use by competitors.
Visit Now: https://www.tumblr.com/trademark-quick/751620857551634432/ensure-legal-protection-file-your-trademark-with?source=share
WINDING UP of COMPANY, Modes of DissolutionKHURRAMWALI
Winding up, also known as liquidation, refers to the legal and financial process of dissolving a company. It involves ceasing operations, selling assets, settling debts, and ultimately removing the company from the official business registry.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of winding up:
Reasons for Winding Up:
Insolvency: This is the most common reason, where the company cannot pay its debts. Creditors may initiate a compulsory winding up to recover their dues.
Voluntary Closure: The owners may decide to close the company due to reasons like reaching business goals, facing losses, or merging with another company.
Deadlock: If shareholders or directors cannot agree on how to run the company, a court may order a winding up.
Types of Winding Up:
Voluntary Winding Up: This is initiated by the company's shareholders through a resolution passed by a majority vote. There are two main types:
Members' Voluntary Winding Up: The company is solvent (has enough assets to pay off its debts) and shareholders will receive any remaining assets after debts are settled.
Creditors' Voluntary Winding Up: The company is insolvent and creditors will be prioritized in receiving payment from the sale of assets.
Compulsory Winding Up: This is initiated by a court order, typically at the request of creditors, government agencies, or even by the company itself if it's insolvent.
Process of Winding Up:
Appointment of Liquidator: A qualified professional is appointed to oversee the winding-up process. They are responsible for selling assets, paying off debts, and distributing any remaining funds.
Cease Trading: The company stops its regular business operations.
Notification of Creditors: Creditors are informed about the winding up and invited to submit their claims.
Sale of Assets: The company's assets are sold to generate cash to pay off creditors.
Payment of Debts: Creditors are paid according to a set order of priority, with secured creditors receiving payment before unsecured creditors.
Distribution to Shareholders: If there are any remaining funds after all debts are settled, they are distributed to shareholders according to their ownership stake.
Dissolution: Once all claims are settled and distributions made, the company is officially dissolved and removed from the business register.
Impact of Winding Up:
Employees: Employees will likely lose their jobs during the winding-up process.
Creditors: Creditors may not recover their debts in full, especially if the company is insolvent.
Shareholders: Shareholders may not receive any payout if the company's debts exceed its assets.
Winding up is a complex legal and financial process that can have significant consequences for all parties involved. It's important to seek professional legal and financial advice when considering winding up a company.
2. About MyCase
Built as a complete platform, MyCase offers features that
seamlessly cover all the daily functions that a modern, small law
firm requires in one place at an affordable price.
MyCase Web-BasedLegalPracticeManagementSoftware
Just$39/monthperattorney
$29/monthperparalegalorstaff
3. About MyCase
•Modern and professional design built for your firm
•Social media and blog integration
•Complete integration with MyCase practice management
software
MyCase Websites
4. About Our Presenter
Stephanie Kimbro, MA, JD, is a Fellow at Stanford Law
School Center for the Legal Profession in Palo Alto,
California. She is the author of several books including
Virtual Law Practice: How to Deliver Legal Services Online
(2010, 2nd ed. forthcoming 2015), Limited Scope Legal
Services: Unbundling and the Self-Help Client (2012),
Consumer Law Revolution: The Lawyers’ Guide to the
Online Legal Marketplace (2013), and Online Legal Services
for the Client-Centric Law Firm (2013). Her current research
at Stanford involves the use of gamification to increase
productivity in law firms and to improve online engagement
between lawyers and the public.
StephanieKimbro, M.A., J.D.
5. Overview
• Market for online legal services
• Virtual law firm business models and delivery
methods
• Marketing a virtual law firm
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
6. The U.S Legal Services Market
• American consumers spend
approximately $43 billion to $56
billion annually on personal legal
services
• Latent legal services market adds
another $45 billion to the
potential market
• $145 billion market in total
Size of the market for legal services
What consumers spend now $43 billion
Estimated value of under-served
consumers or latent market defined as
the value of legal problems that are not
serviced.
$45 billion
Total market $88 billion
6
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
8. Clients are online, lawyers aren’t
Pew Research Center:
3 out of 4 consumers
seeking an attorney
over the last year
used online resources
at some point
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
10. Good Customer Service =
Communicating and being accessible using methods that
are currently embraced and relied upon by clients.
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
11. The public conducts
the following tasks online:
Shop
Sell
Bank
Invest
Trade
Pay Taxes
E-file
Obtain degrees
Work
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
12. Here come the “Digital
Natives”.
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
13. Poll #1
• As my law firm’s main method of legal service delivery
• An amenity for my firm’s existing clients
• A way to inject additional revenue into my firm by providing
unbundled services online
• A competitive advantage over other traditional law firms
• My clients are requesting online services
What is the primary reasonyou are interestedin delivering
legalservicesonline?
StephanieKimbro(c)Copyright2014
14. Designing a Virtual Law Firm
• Business Models
• Unbundling
• Design Thinking
• Creating a Business Plan
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
15. Fundamental Questions
•Agood business model defines:
• Who is the client?
• What does the client value?
• Italsoanswersthefundamentalquestioneverymanagermustask:
• How do we make money in this business?
• What is the underlying economic logic that explains how we can
deliver value to customers at an appropriate cost?
Source:JoanMagretta(2002,HarvardBusinessReview,WhyBusinessModelsMatter)
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
16. Business Model Questions
• How DoesYour Law Firm Create Value?
• How DoesYour Law Firm Deliver Value?
• How DoesYour Law Firm Capture Value?
The reason why people or businesses seek out your
law firm is because they have a problem and they are
asking you, “Do you have a solution?”
They are not interested in your laundry list of services.
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
17. Examples of Law Firm Business Models
• Legal Subscription Plans
• Full Service Law Firm
• Limited Legal Service Law Firm
• Brick and Mortar Law Firm
• Virtual Law Firm
• General Practice Law Firm
• Niche Practice Law Firm
• Fixed Price law firm vs. billing by the hour
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
18. Most Popular Virtual Law Firm Business Models
• Completely Web-based - “pure-play”
• Unbundled or limited legal services
• Integrated into a traditional law office
• Unbundled and full-service
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
21. Design Techniques
• Analyze legal projects into their component tasks.
• A task becomes a project that you price separately.
• It should be a stand-alone project or process that you
can put a boundary around so that the service is
limited.
• Can you digitize it? Make it into a digital application?
Deliver it online?
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
28. Poll #2
• Establishing attorney/client relationships online
• Determining authentication of client identity
• Security and confidentiality concerns
• Making the determination of when unbundling is appropriate
or not
• My state bar’s position on cloud computing
What PotentialConcernsto you have about online delivery?
StephanieKimbro(c)Copyright2014
29. Marketing a Virtual Law Firm
• Branding and Positioning Strategy
• Online Marketing Methods
• Branded Networks
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
30.
31. Online Legal Conversations
Stephanie L. Kimbro - Copyright (c) 2014
Where are the lawyers?
Consumers
LegalZoom
Rocket Lawyer
Pearl.com
Other Branded Networks
Press
Bloggers
32. Engagement Comes First
How?
Educational, self-help resources available online
• Web advisors, web calculators
• Expert systems, checklists
• Document Automation and Assembly
• Free legal forms with instructions
• Video tutorials
• Online tri-age methods to identify
the existence of a legal need
• Matching legal need of consumer with appropriate service – whether
that’s the law firm, unbundled, self-help, legal aid, etc.
Stephanie L. Kimbro - Copyright (c) 2014
33. What We Know
• Easier with a personal or law firm brand in place and
an online presence
• Human contact is still necessary
• Middle-person, virtual assistant or receptionist
• Minimal handholding before transfer and/or conversion from lead
to paying client
• Consumers still prefer to find lawyers by referral from
friends and family
Stephanie L. Kimbro - Copyright (c) 2014
34. Marketing Strategy – Build a Brand
First: Who are your clients?
Second: Where are they online and off? How
do they communicate with friends and family?
Third: How are they finding you?
Fourth: What content are they looking for?
Tailor to let prospective clients know what
services you provide and how your firm’s
services are unique.
35. Key Factors that Differentiate
Identify the key legal and non-legal needs that prospective
clients are looking for intheir selection process. Express these:
• I understand what you are going through
• I understand the questions you have about this process and
can listen effectively to you
• I have the experience to help with the substantive, legal
aspects of the problem
• I won’t be judged and you will help me get my life back on
track
• I understand the payment structure and how to budget for my
legal needs.
36. One Unique Thing
Select one great, interesting or unique thing about
yourself.
More than one and you’re bragging.
Can use this to get the initial attention, tell your story,
relate.
Doesn’t have to be related to your law degree.
You sang backup with Aerosmith
You run the Boston Marathon every year
You have a PhD in physics
You are a Girl Scout troop leader
You were the star quarterback in college and almost went pro
37. What is a Lead?
Lead Generation = Prospective Client Development
Cold vs warm leads
Lead “nurturing”
Lead conversion
Lead conversion is still your job no matter who you pay to
generate the leads or how much.
Visitors Leads Clients
38. What is a Branded Network?
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
39. Online Marketing Tools
• Q&Asites, Forums
• Online profiles
• Hosting and sharing content
• Online brand building
• Secure online communication space
• Video conferencing tools
• Document automation and assembly systems and
document libraries
• Expert systems toadvise decision making
• Matching services toconnect the user toaconsumer
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
42. Be Selective
Which branded network and marketing tools are
appropriate for:
• Your practice areas
• Your client base
• Your (and your clients’) comfort level with tech
• State RPC
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
43. Future innovations in the delivery
of legal services will include more
applications to allow the public to
directly interact with a lawyer
online.
Stephanie Kimbro (c) Copyright 2014
45. Contact Us
Stephanie Kimbro, M.A.,J.D.
stephaniekimbro@gmail.com
virtuallawpractice.org
@StephKimbro
MyCase.com
MyCase.com/blog
support@mycase.com
(800) 571-8062
30-Day FREE Trial
MyCase
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PracticeManagementSoftware
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