Setting Up A Low Overhead Virtual Law Practice

Brian V Powers

About Me

• Practiced law for 4 years at a large firm

• Practiced the past 2 years as a solo

• Focus solely on corporate transactional work

A “Real” Virtual Lawyer

Law Practice Magazine – September/October 2011 Issue

Hey that’s me!

Why A Virtual Law Practice

• Eliminate Traditional Overhead Costs

• Allows a solo practitioner or small firm to focus on building a practice and attending to client needs. o As opposed to managing and administering a law practice

• Something Different• Good Marketing Tool• Bad Marketing Tool

What is a Virtual Law Practice

• Home Office Based• Heavily Dependent on Secure Technology

and Process Automation• No Staff / Full-Time Staff• Portable

The Essentials• Dedicated Home Office With Good Working Space• Laptop• Scanner/Printer• Website / Email / Blog• Dedicated Phone Number / Fax Number• Smartphone• Cloud Based Practice Management System• Online Billing• File Backup (server or online)• Go Paperless

Some Extras

• 2nd Monitor• iPad• Smartpen (Livescribe)• NeatDesk Scanner• Click2Mail.com• DropBox.com• Outright.com• ShoeBoxed.com

Two Monitor Configuration

Cloud Based Practice Management Systems

• What is the Cloud?• Applications and data that are located remotely and

typically accessed via a web browser over the Internet

• Cost Saving• Less hardware• Less need for dedicated IT support

• Disadvantages• Ethical Dilemmas• Technical Aptitude

Cloud Based Practice Management Systems

• Allow you to securely manage your practice from anywhere with an internet connection.o Client Managemento Document Managemento Calendar and Task Managemento Time tracking, billing and invoicing

• goClio.com (this is what I use)• RocketMatter.com• VLOTEch

Clio Screen Shots

 

Ways to Keep Overhead Low• Use Google Apps

o Free Emailo Free Word Processingo Free Calendaro All easily accessible from a browser or Smartphone.

• Get a Free Google Voice Numbero Need a cell phone to receive and make callso Calls may also be made and accepted via email browser

interface.• Use RingCentral for your Fax ($9.99/month – no fax machine

required)• Look for free CLE, CLE scholarships and CLE provided by state

and local bar associations.• Be mindful of your marketing budget

Tools For Your Website

• Squarespace.com - site design and hosting.• Wordpress - blog• Tungle.me – online appointments• FormStack.com

o Good for client inquirieso Payment processing with PayPal.com

• Google Voice “Call Me” button.

Automating Processes• Allows you to focus on practicing law and clients – not on

administrative tasks.• Seamless Timetracking, Billing and Invoicing

o Time ->Billing System->Invoice Deliveryo Consider goClio.como Consider using fixed fees (but still track time)

• Seamless Bookkeepingo Billing and Receipts -> Accounting Systemo Consider NeatDesk, Shoeboxed.com, Outright.com

• Go Paperlesso Scan as PDFo DropBox.com

Low Cost Marketing

• Websiteo SEO – Search Engine Resultso SEM – Paid Per Click

• Blogging• Social Media• Old Fashioned Networking

Ethical Considerations

• Reasonable Precautions to Safeguard Client Data• Public WiFi• Cloud Based Tools• Email

• Check out Carmel Based ILTSO (International Legal Technical Standards Organization) for some guidance on precautions.

• The virtual footprint can be large - be careful on practicing in other states.

Ethical Considerations• Rule 1.6 : a lawyer "shall not reveal information relating to the

representation of a client."

• Comment 16 to Rule 1.6 states that ""the lawyer must take reasonable precautions to prevent the information from coming into the hands of unintended recipients”

• Comment 17 also states that the duty to take reasonable precautions “does not require that the lawyer use special security measures if the method of communication afford a reasonable expectation of privacy” and that reasonableness of a lawyer’s expectation of confidentiality should factor in “the sensitivity of the information and the extent to which privacy of the communications is protected by law or by a confidentiality agreement.”