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Q: What is a virtual law practice? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A:<\/strong> A virtual law firm is a law practice that doesn\u2019t utilize or fully rely on a traditional brick-and-mortar office. Instead, lawyers and staff members work remotely\u2014whether from home, satellite offices, or coworking spaces\u2014and use digital tools and platforms to communicate with each other and clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Legal answering services have become increasingly popular over the past couple of years as lawyers and law firms rid themselves of their brick-and-mortar and instead take advantage of new technologies to practice law virtually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even before the pandemic, virtual law firms were taking off; the pandemic has only accelerated the rate at which lawyers are switching from a traditional practice to a virtual platform. Why? There are many reasons, including: expensive leases, long commutes, more tech-savvy clients, and the desire for a better work-life integration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Legal answering services are one of the key tools enabling the legal industry to successfully operate in a remote environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start with the basics: what is a virtual or online law firm or practice? <\/p>\n\n\n\n A virtual law firm is a law practice that doesn\u2019t utilize or fully rely on traditional brick-and-mortar offices. Instead, lawyers and staff members work remotely\u2014whether from home, satellite offices, or coworking spaces\u2014and use digital tools and platforms to communicate with each other and clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The concept of a virtual law firm is not new. Virtual law firms have existed for over 15 years; however, it wasn\u2019t until recently that the legal industry started to truly embrace available technologies to practice law virtually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the legal industry had little choice but to adopt new ways that lawyers could work with their clients. . As a result, there are more virtual lawyers now than ever before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: What does a virtual lawyer do? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A:<\/strong> A virtual lawyer provides the same services as any other lawyer; the only difference is they often lack a physical office and offer legal services remotely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is worth noting that the legal industry is slow to change \u2014and for good reason. Rules and regulations require law firms and lawyers to be strict about confidentiality, data protection, attorney-client privilege, and record keeping. Most law firms and lawyers have cited cybersecurity concerns as one of the main reasons they were reluctant to try out innovative technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Law, like many aspects of government, is complex and rooted in tradition, history, and layers of bureaucratic jargon that make it difficult to change. The practice of law evolves slowly with time, but often remains static and is characterized by inertia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, while there was some incentive prior to the pandemic to make the switch to a virtual practice\u2014increased flexibility, convenience, better work-life integration\u2014for many lawyers, these incentives weren\u2019t enough to convince law firms and lawyers to make the switch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And then COVID-19 happened, and everything had to change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawyers were practically forced to operate virtually anyways due to physical distancing regulations. If law firms were reluctant to try out new technologies before, they had little choice in the matter now. As it turns out, the global remote work experiment helped law firms\u2014large and small\u2014realize that having a virtual practice is not only convenient, but also beneficial for them and their clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are various technologies and platforms out there that enable lawyers to perform their duties as effectively without a physical office. Having tried them already, many lawyers are now reluctant to go back to their traditional law practices and are instead making the full-time switch to a virtual practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s worth noting that lower overhead costs are a huge driver for law firms to transition to virtual, especially post-COVID. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While prior economic crises didn\u2019t negatively impact the legal industry as much as other industries, the coronavirus pandemic was different. <\/p>\n\n\n Research found that demand for legal services dropped an average of 5% in April 2020 and that the average U.S. law firm billed 27% less than the previous year. <\/p>\n\n\n Law firms were so badly hit that nearly half of the larges 100 law firms in the U.S. were forced to make pay cuts, furloughs, and \u201cother moves to trim costs,\u201d according to a Bloomberg<\/a> Law analysis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that law firms\u2014as companies in other industries\u2014are in a position where they need to do more with less resources. Reducing overhead from office rent and the associated costs\u2014utilities, printing, maintenance, toilet paper, coffee, etc.\u2014is an effective way for companies to do more with less. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Suggested reading:<\/strong> Going Virtual? Making Sure Your Virtual Office is Compliant<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond these benefits, law firms that transition to a virtual practice are more likely to attract and retain clients in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n Why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pew Research Center and Elon University\u2019s Imagining the Internet Center recently published the results of a survey of experts<\/a> in technology, communications and social change. Here\u2019s what they found: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAsked to consider what life will be like in 2025 in the wake of the outbreak of the global pandemic and other crises in 2020, some 915 innovators, developers, business and policy leaders, researchers and activists responded. Their broad and nearly universal view is that people\u2019s relationship with technology will deepen as larger segments of the population come to rely more on digital connections for work, education, health care, daily commercial transactions and essential social interactions. A number describe this as a \u2018tele-everything\u2019 world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Basically, what this means is that people\u2019s and company\u2019s expectations of services have fundamentally changed. Moving forward, individuals and companies will increasingly seek services that are powered by technology and that deliver instantly. This applies to everything: from food delivery and retail shopping to legal services and healthcare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The research further concluded that: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHumans\u2019 yearning for convenience and safety fuels reliance on digital tools: The pandemic has rearranged incentives so that consumers will be more willing to seek out smart gadgets, apps and systems.\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n In other words, there is no \u201cgoing back to normal.\u201d The way people live and conduct business has changed; law firms need to evolve accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual law firms have existed for more than 15 years. However, recent technological advances have made it easier than ever for lawyers to set up a virtual law practice and to collaborate effectively with clients and colleagues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a closer look at some of the technologies making virtual law firms a reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cloud has been pivotal in making the transition to remote work a seamless one; this is true of mostly all industries, including the legal one. <\/p>\n\n\n Why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because cloud-based storage enables legal documents to be neatly and securely stored. What\u2019s more, it\u2019s made it easier than ever for people to collaborate and share documents with one another (granted that they have access). Lawyers and interested parties can also now sign documents virtually thanks to signature applications that can be integrated with cloud-based document solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One added benefit of storing legal documents in the cloud is that documents can be accessed from anywhere. Meaning, you don\u2019t have to be in your home office to access and review important documents, even when you\u2019re short on time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Video conferencing apps like Zoom, Skype for Business, Go to Meeting, Google Workspace \u2026 the list goes on and on, have made it possible for the legal industry, like many other professions, to keep operating during the coronavirus pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n For example, thanks to video apps, court sessions continued to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic and lawyers were able to continue meeting and onboarding clients even with physical distancing regulations still in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moving forward, the legal industry will continue to lean on videoconferencing software to operate remotely and without relying as much on physical meeting space; whether it be to meet with clients, hold negotiation meetings, or talk with a judge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawyers tend to have back-to-back meetings regularly. Scheduling apps are making the transition to a remote-first law practice much seamless for lawyers and clients alike. <\/p>\n\n\n This type of solution makes it easy for staff and lawyers to coordinate and schedule meetings without needing to communicate in person or go back and forth by email. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many virtual law practices have integrated scheduling apps to their website to make it easier for clients and potential clients to set up a meeting or consultation. These apps can also be integrated into email signatures, making it easier than ever for two people to find a good day and time to meet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual answering services have facilitated the transition to remote work for a variety of industries and professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n For the legal industry specifically, virtual answering services enable law firms to operate with less need for administrative assistants. This, in turn, can further reduce overhead costs associated with running a law practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What is an answering service? <\/p>\n\n\n\n With an answering service, companies can outsource their phone answering requirements. What this means is that your virtual answering service receives, and handles calls on behalf of your business. For law firms, this means that callers can leave messages for specific lawyers or staff members. When they don\u2019t ask for a specific person, an answering service can direct the call to the right person to ensure that caller requests are met. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn how Alliance Virtual Offices can provide your virtual office with friendly, live receptionists.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual lawyers have used virtual answering services for years, which is why some virtual answering companies offer legal answering services. This type of service is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the legal industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Answering services are popular among solo lawyers as well as larger firms as they help reduce distractions and have the capability to answer more calls. <\/p>\n\n\n Virtual offices and their portfolio of services can provide remote lawyers and law firms with access to on-demand office and meeting space. It also provides them with a professional address to receive and handle mail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: What are the advantages of a virtual office? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A:<\/strong> Virtual offices offer a variety of benefits, among the key advantages are increased flexibility, reduced overhead, and access to renowned office locations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A virtual office is a key component of a virtual law firm as some states still require lawyers to have a physical business address. While in some cases, P.O. Box addresses will do, in some instances lawyers\u2014like litigators\u2014are required to have a physical address so courts can contact them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a lawyer and are interested in making the transition to remote work, you may be wondering how to start a virtual law firm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important part of setting up a virtual law practice<\/a> is to have the right setup. To ensure you have the right setup, we recommend you start by working on a solid business plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To figure out the right set-up for you and your staff, you need to carefully consider what everyone needs to be productive. This is a crucial step, as you do not want to invest in software and business tools that will not be necessary or effective for your team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, to start off, you will need to take stock of your current legal operation and ask yourself how you want to distribute your duties virtually. Will you go fully virtual, or will you keep part of your operations in traditional brick-and-mortar? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have an answer to the above question, you\u2019ll want to start considering and trying out the different software solutions available to take your law operations into the digital world. There are various options out there, so make sure you investigate each one carefully before you decide. <\/p>\n\n\n Pro tip:<\/strong> many of these digital tools offer a limited free trial, if you\u2019re unsure about a specific software or are between a couple of options, give these free trials a go before you make a heavy investment. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Once you have picked your preferred software solutions, you need to train yourself and your staff on how to use the software properly. It\u2019s important to have clear policies and guidelines on how each platform should be used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro tip:<\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>make sure that you set up clear operational procedures and best practices for how each platform should be used and accessed. <\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Below is a list of basics you\u2019ll need to get your virtual law practice up and running. Keep in mind that different law practice areas will require different tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This type of software is particularly important for law firms that have several lawyers as part of the team. Internal communication and collaboration platforms are key to ensuring that all involved parties are able to work effectively, even asynchronously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most communication and collaboration tools have an option to create different channels and project pages to ensure that communication goes smoothly and to reduce potential distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n If you are going to work remotely, you need to have cloud storage at your disposal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Given the nature of the legal industry, you will want to make sure that the platform you choose has strict security settings and a strong privacy policy. You will be dealing with a lot of sensitive and confidential information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While yes, lawyers can use their personal phones to talk with clients, a VoIP service enables lawyers to keep their personal number private. Another benefit is that a VoIP number will display a centralized number on call recipients\u2019 screens, which portrays an image of professionalism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Suggested reading:\u00a0<\/strong>Top 20 VoIP Features of a Virtual Phone Plan<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legal answering services can help solo lawyers, as well as larger law firms, stay on track with calls and minimize the risk of missed calls. Legal answering services can also help larger law firms direct calls. <\/p>\n\n\n Legal answering service costs vary greatly. Most answering service providers charge on a per call or per minute basis. You can expect to pay anywhere between $115 to $200 monthly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that legal phone answering services are slightly more expensive than traditional answering services, as live receptionists for the legal industry are trained to conduct legal intaking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: How can attorneys benefit form legal answering services? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A: <\/strong>Legal answering services can handle more calls and they reduce the risk of missed calls. Plus, having an external party answer calls reduces distractions and interruptions, which means lawyers can focus on high-value tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the US, electronic signatures are legally valid and binding. If you are planning on starting a virtual law practice, then signing documents virtually will come in handy; otherwise, you will need to print, sign, and scan documents, which can be more time consuming and expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re operating virtually, it makes sense that you will want clients to be able to pay you remotely. You won\u2019t be asking clients to mail you a check anytime soon. Online payment software will make it easier for you to invoice and bill clients and set up scheduled payments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAn Overview of Virtual Law Offices <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nKey Benefits of Operating a Virtual Law Practice <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBecause the future is remote. <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nEvolving Service Expectations <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Driving Force behind Virtual Law Firms <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Cloud <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nVideoconferencing <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nScheduling Apps <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nVirtual Answering Services <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nVirtual Offices <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow to Set up a Virtual Law Firm? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/11-icon-ProTip-1.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/5-Conclusion-2.png\")
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Virtual Law Office Software Checklist <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Communication and Internal Collaboration Software <\/h3>\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/02-Section-CloudStorage.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCloud Storage <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
VoIP <\/h3>\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n Legal Answering Service <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nDigital Signature Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.alliancevirtualoffices.com\/virtual-office-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/06-Section-OnlinePayments.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOnline Payments <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Client Portal <\/h3>\n\n\n
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