“A what? … A virtual law firm!!” “What exactly is that?” These are some of the questions I am faced with on a regular basis as I navigate the murky and unchartered waters of creating a virtual law practice in the Caribbean.
Admittedly, the legal profession is entrenched in centuries of custom and tradition which underpins the foundation of its operation. Convention dictates many aspects of the legal profession from attire to court room protocol. In the face of such rigidity many false misconceptions have permeated the field.
One such misconception is that scheduling a meeting with your Attorney means entering a room in pristine condition adorned with leather chairs, classic white walls, sophisticated paintings and an executive desk that completes the elegant appeal of the room. That vision may have existed in 2000 however, in 2019 where the digital age allows you to have groceries delivered to your doorstep with one click, the legal profession can evolve to match technology.
Relinquishing stereotypes is always a difficult task as perception is a hard concept to escape. My journey to becoming entirely virtual was a not something I easily embraced. Initially I was plagued with fear as I wondered if my clients would accept meeting with an Attorney virtually.
“If people want your services and you provide them with one option, they will meet with you,” were the words of wisdom uttered to me from my US based friend and mentor who operates a virtual law practice in Texas. I was confiding in her my reservations about my pending decision.
Skeptical but willing to take the leap, I packed up my law office that was costing me more than I was earning. I soon realized working from home was comfortable. Litigation is not part of my practice therefore leaving to head to the court room was not a factor for me to consider.
I recalled my Law and Technology Professor telling our class that technology always moves faster than the law. He made the statement on the premise that the law was always behind when it came to legislating technology.
His words in relation to law and technology have always resonated with me as I help my creative clients in the digital age where social media reigns supreme and content can be copied in the blink of an eye. However, the legal profession can also use the advantages that comes with living in a digital era to make the law accessible to all.
It was with this goal in mind I decided to move from my physical office into the virtual world, and I totally enjoy the freedom and flexibility it provides. The internet is not just a recreational space to browse social media, google search or email friends and family.
Many would argue that the internet is the most important invention created within the last century. Whether, you believe this to be true, the internet has made it substantially easier to communicate with everyone. Therefore, with communication being a click away I moved from the concrete walls into a virtual space and created my virtual law firm.
