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Innovation

What Do You Mean by “Virtual Law Firm”?

By Chad Burton

Virtual Law Practice. The legal industry has not experienced such a trendy concept since “per stirpes” hit the scene back in the day. The virtual concept must be doing something right, though, because it is both embraced and disliked.

What is it? Over the past few years, virtual law practices have been defined on a sliding scale — from solos delivering services exclusively online, to multi-lawyer, multi-jurisdictional firms providing traditional and online services, and everything in between.

Really, it is a label used to identify firms taking a different path to deliver legal services using technology and alternative business structures.

Is the Virtual Label Needed?

Yes, for now. For the legal technology community, it is easy to get stuck inside the bubble where it seems that new technology practices have permeated the profession. We are not quite there. A lot of new ideas have not yet spread. The virtual label is a good way to introduce lawyers to new concepts. This is particularly important with the revision to the comments of ABA Model Rule 1.1, indicating lawyers need to “understand the benefits and risks of technology” when it comes to delivering legal services.

It is important to remember that all the technology in the world does not replace a lawyer’s mind (yet). Understanding the law and how to implement strategies to obtain the best results for clients is still front and center. Technology is a vehicle that helps lawyers deliver these services.

Also, clients really don’t care how a firm is labeled. They, rightfully, care only about results.

You might think of the virtual label as a mindset. It expands your thinking about how a law firm can be operated, begging the question, “Is there a better way we can be running this firm?” The result can look very different from the firm next door (see the broad definition described above).

So, if the label helps forward that cause, then it serves a purpose. It is here to help. How can a firm use technology or alternative structures to better serve its clients? The virtual label can help with staffing, technology or general organization and productivity.

Like most trends, the label will fade away soon. In the next several years, what is labeled a virtual law firm will simply be called practicing law. Fortunately, there will be other concepts to beat around and debate.

Chad E. Burton is principal and founding attorney at Burton Law LLC, a virtual law firm headquartered out of Dayton, Ohio, with locations in Cincinnati, Columbus and North Carolina. Chad is also CEO of CuroLegal, focused on the future of law. Follow him @ChadEBurton.

Categories: Cloud Computing, Daily Dispatch, Legal Technology, Virtual Law Practice
Originally published October 10, 2013
Last updated October 17, 2021
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Chad Burton

Chad E. Burton is an attorney and CEO of CuroLegal, focused on the future of law, and co-founder of Modern Law Practice. Follow him @ChadEBurton.

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