Online Legal Services for the Client-centric Law Firm

With increased competition from non-lawyer legal services companies, the demand for more competitive and diverse pricing models, and reductions in client's legal budgets, the most innovative law firms have begun to recognise the need for online legal services. These firms are realising that online delivery is not solely a way to increase revenue for their practice, but it is also a method of serving the public that meets a clear need for more cost effective delivery of legal assistance. Managing Partner's new report, Online Legal Services for the Client-Centric Law Firm, provides in-depth guidance on establishing, growing, and maintaining a clear and achievable strategy for successful online legal service delivery. This critical new guide will enable you to: Implement online delivery services within existing law firm models Analyse and identify services and practice areas to provide online Select the appropriate technology and systems Implement best practices in online delivery Address customer service issues Choose the right pricing models for online services Create and develop effective marketing strategies for online services Understand and manage best practices on ethical and malpractice issues Online Legal Services for the Client-Centric Law Firm is packed with mini case studies detailing different online delivery models from a wide range of international firms including Burton Law, Jacoby & Meyers, Samuel Phillips, Epoq Legal, Brilliant Law, and Slater & Gordon. Useful appendices are also included to assist you with the design, launch, and fine-tuning of your own online legal services. These include: An outline business plan for law firm online legal services. Sample provisions from a limited scope engagement letter. Sample policies and procedures for a law firm delivering online legal services. Online Legal Services for the Client-Centric Law Firm provides a solid background and starting point for delivering online legal services for the client-centric law firm.

Executive summary ... V About the author...IX Acknowledgements ...XI Part One: Online legal services - Management, development, and best practice Chapter 1: Why deliver services online? ... 3 What is the competition? ... 4 What are the benefits for the public? ... 5 What are the different structures of online delivery? ... 6 Who will be in charge? ... 7 Case study: Samuel Phillips ... 7 Establishing a clear and achievable strategy for online delivery... 8 Pricing models ... 10 Creating the client portal ... 12 Chapter 2: Managing online legal services ... 15 Providing customer service in an online environment ... 15 Case study: Slater & Gordon ... 18 Daily best practices for use of the technology to deliver online services ... 20 Chapter 3: Growth and development of the firm's online legal services ... 23 Marketing online legal services ... 23 Website development ... 23 Calls to action ... 27 Case study: Jacoby & Meyers' website offerings ... 29 Blogging ... 29 Social media integration ... 32 Collaborating with branded networks ... 35 Case study: Branded network in India... 35 Case study: Burton Law ... 38 Contents IV Chapter 4: Ethics and best practices ... 41 Establishing the online relationship - Beginning, scope, and termination ... 41 Confidentiality and security ... 42 Selecting the technology ... 42 Case study: Online delivery technology provider - Epoq Legal ... 46 Best practices using the selected technology ... 47 Other daily basics to avoid malpractice in online delivery ... 51 Chapter 5: Market forces and looking forward ... 55 Case study: Brilliant Law ... 57 A note on the legal aid sector ... 57 Changes in regulations ... 58 Conclusions and a couple of predictions ... 60 Part Two: Appendices Appendix 1: Outline business plan for law firm online legal services... 67 Appendix 2: Sample provisions from a limited scope engagement letter ... 69 Appendix 3: Sample policies and procedures for a law firm delivering online legal services ... 73