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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.”