1. Setting Up A Low Overhead Virtual Law Practice Brian V Powers

2. 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

3. A “Real” Virtual Lawyer Law Practice Magazine – September/October 2011 Issue Hey that’s me !

4. 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

5. What is a Virtual Law Practice Home Office Based Heavily Dependent on Secure Technology and Process Automation No Staff / Full-Time Staff Portable

6. 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

7. Some Extras 2nd Monitor iPad Smartpen (Livescribe) NeatDesk Scanner Click2Mail.com DropBox.com Outright.com ShoeBoxed.com

8. Two Monitor Configuration

9. 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

10. Cloud Based Practice Management Systems Allow you to securely manage your practice from anywhere with an internet connection. o Client Management o Document Management o Calendar and Task Management o Time tracking, billing and invoicing goClio.com (this is what I use) RocketMatter.com VLOTEch

11. Clio Screen Shots

12. Ways to Keep Overhead Low Use Google Apps o Free Email o Free Word Processing o Free Calendar o All easily accessible from a browser or Smartphone. Get a Free Google Voice Number o Need a cell phone to receive and make calls o 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

13. Tools For Your Website Squarespace.com - site design and hosting. Wordpress - blog Tungle.me – online appointments FormStack.com o Good for client inquiries o Payment processing with PayPal.com Google Voice “Call Me” button.

14. 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 Delivery o Consider goClio.com o Consider using fixed fees (but still track time) Seamless Bookkeeping o Billing and Receipts -> Accounting System o Consider NeatDesk, Shoeboxed.com, Outright.com Go Paperless o Scan as PDF o DropBox.com

15. Low Cost Marketing Website o SEO – Search Engine Results o SEM – Paid Per Click Blogging Social Media Old Fashioned Networking

16. 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.

17. 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.”