1. What is virtual law practice?
A virtual law office is a professional law practice that is located online through a secure portal and is accessible to both the client and the attorney anywhere the parties may access the Internet.
Other terminology: elawyering, virtual lawyering, VLO, virtual law firm, web-based or web-enabled law practice, online law practice, delivering legal services online.
Features of a virtual law office
Methods of eLawyering are found in a virtual law practice.
The structure of a VLP – the technology chosen and the services offered will impact the different ethics and pm issues that might arise.

2. What virtual law practice is not
Online legal services without attorney review, such as LegalZoom
a law firm website with an “contact us” form
communication by
a rented physical office that may be shared with other professionals along with a receptionist service

3. How Attorneys Use Virtual Law Offices
Completely Web-based
Unbundled or limited legal services
Integrated into a traditional law office
Unbundled and full-service
As a transition method to allow them to continue to practice law while meeting other personal and professional needs:
To raise families
To care for ill spouses or aging parents
To ease into retirement
After layoffs, to start a solo practice or work while searching for another legal job

4. Web-based

5. Traditional Firm w/Virtual Law Office

6. Unbundled Legal Services

7. Multijurisdictional Virtual Law Firm

8. Why is Virtual Law Practice Important?
For the Public
Greater access to justice
Court systems and non-profit legal aid organizations already rely on cloud computing methods to deliver legal services online
Affordable and accessible legal services for lower and moderate income individuals
Pro-se litigants
Pro bono opportunities
For the Legal Profession
Tech streamlines and automates the workflow allowing the attorney to focus on practicing law
Prevent malpractice through automated checks and processes
Lower overhead, less office waste, eco-friendly
Expanded client base, competitive advantage
Better quality of life through work/life balance and flexibility
Remote and rural areas providing access to justice for them.
Client base to help remote clients

9. Cloud Computing SaaS is one form of cloud computing.
Practicing law “in the cloud.”
Most traditional firms already use some form of SaaS
Lexis/Westlaw research, , search engines, Google apps, Skype, etc.
The technology used to create and maintain the virtual law practice is handled through a secure, third-party hosted system.

10. Ethics Issues UPL Authentication of client identity
Data return and retention policies
Backups
Server locations and geo-redundancy
Third-party hosting
Response time/customer service
Confidentiality of law office data
Who has access?
Government and civil search and seizure actions
Breach of confidentiality – unlimited liability for data breaches?
Transferring Data/Compatibility Issues
North Carolina Bar 2010 Proposed Formal Ethics Opinion 7, “Subscribing to Software as a Service While Fulfilling the Duties of Confidentiality and Preservation of Client Property”
(April 15, 2010), North Carolina State Bar Journal, Summer 2010, Volume 15, Number 2.

11. Why Cloud Computing?
The only effective way to distribute this technology to the legal profession and for attorneys to employ these methods in their practices is through the use of the Internet
Cloud computing allows the cost of developing these apps to be spread out over a wide number of users.

12. Future Delivery of Legal Services Online
The growth of online legal services is largely consumer-driven.
Trends in outsourcing and the globalization of law firms will also influence this.
The legal profession should step up to meet this need or the public will continue to use methods that are not safe or in their best interest to acquire online legal services.
In order to stay competitive and to address the needs of clients, most firms will need some form of virtual component in the next five to ten years.