A “virtual law firm” or “virtual law office” 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 are consumed by the client. More specifically a virtual law firm can be defined as having a secure client portal that is accessible from the law firm’s web site. The “client portal” is what enables a law firm to have a law practice on the Web.
Through this secure portal, for example, a client can:
- have private discussions of legal matters online
- purchase legal services online
- assemble documents through the web browser
- download and upload of documents for review
- pay legal bills online
What is “E-lawyering”?
E-Lawyering encompasses all the ways in which lawyers can do their work using the internet 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. E-Lawyering or virtual lawyering requires that a client be able to log in to a secure web space where they can access the firm’s legal services.
What a “Virtual Law Firm“ Is Not
A law firm without a physical office, sometimes called a “virtual law firm” is not considered a virtual law firm if the firm does not have a secure client portal.
A law firm that uses web-based back-office practice management tools and applications is not a virtual law firm if it does not have a secure client portal.
By our definition, virtual lawyering and e-lawyering are one and the same and they always involve the actual delivery of legal services over the web through a client portal that is part of the firm’s web site architecture. If your firm does not have a web site where clients can log in and interact with you, you are not operating as a virtual law firm.
