As the relationship between technology and the legal field evolves, the practice of law transforms. Attorneys and legal professionals embrace new ways of working and serving clients. In this technologically-advancing field, many law firms are becoming virtual, or adopting some aspects of the remote-working environment. Read on to learn some tips and tricks for successfully implementing a virtual law firm and how it could grow your practice exponentially.
Virtual Law Firms: What Are They?
A virtual law firm can be unique to any practice. Not all virtual firms look the same or operate the same way. One thing that remains the foundation of most virtual law firms, however, is that they don't necessarily have a need for a physical office location. Of course, some may have offices in which a few members of the firm work while others are remote, but a virtual firm can also be entirely remote. Some virtual law firms are comprised of solo practitioners in one area or multiple employees in all different areas. That's the beauty of virtual firms: they are unique and flexible for every law firm and can be tailored to the needs of each practice.
Why You Should Go Virtual
Low overhead, lower costs
When firms are virtual, it eliminates expenses like bills and paying to rent office space, giving you the option to provide legal services at a lower cost or make more of a profit.
Flexible working
A flexible work life for employees in which they can work remotely from anywhere has the potential to make them happier and more productive.
Vast list of potential clients
Virtual attorneys and practices can greatly increase their list of potential clients by expanding to new geographical areas, so don't just limit yourself to one place.
How Do I Do it?
Setting up a virtual law firm might seem like a daunting task, but fortunately as the legal tech industry grows, there are abundant resources to help in doing so. Here's what you'll need:
Cloud-based technology
Working remotely allows you to be anywhere at anytime and take your work with you along the way. If you're at home, traveling or simply want to work away for the day, its more than possible with a secure, cloud-based software. NextChapter is a great example of a bankruptcy case management software that allows for multiple users no matter their location on a secure, collaborative network. Another great resource is legal management software Clio, which streamlines practice processes and automates client and case management.
Someone to help with the workload
When working virtually, it's always nice to have someone to delegate to. As an attorney, you may not have time to do certain tasks yourself, or want to spend your time growing and bettering your practice. Hiring remote employees expands your search, allowing you to hire top-notch legal professionals. NextChapter's Virtual Paralegal Support service offers paralegal support per case; let NextChapter do the grunt work for you while you focus on other tasks.
Comprehensive website and marketing
Since you might not have a physical location as a virtual law firm, you won't have an address for a Google listing. With a comprehensive website and expert marketing, you will pull in clients. Direct mail, Google Ads, remarketing ads, and Facebook and Instagram ads are essential ways to market to potential clients. Establishing an online presence is also necessary, as that's how you'll be conducting business. Social media pages with valuable information will help to advertise, but you'll also need a website. Postali is an exceptional resource to help in building your marketing website. They offer marketing services including website design and development, SEO and PPC, legal content writing and digital marketing strategy.
Tools for remote communication
Communicating with employees is key to maintaining your virtual practice. Some great resources for doing this are Slack and Legaler. Slack allows you to communicate through categorized channels or by direct message with members of your firm. You can always see what your remote employees are working on, contact them instantly and hold them accountable through the messaging channels. Legaler specializes in secure video calling. Schedule and conduct virtual meetings that are secured and encrypted, ensuring all your information stays private and free from data-hacking.
Whether you're a solo practitioner looking to implement a fully remote practice or an existing firm starting to outsource or hire virtually, these starting tips will help you set the foundation and get the most out of your virtual firm.