Doing Law on the Web

eLawyering and theFuture of Legal Work

ABA eLawyering Task ForceWilliam S. Boyd School of LawApril 29, 2010

Our presenters

Richard GranatMyLawyer.com; DirectLaw

Blair JanisWealthCounsel, LLC

Stephanie KimbroKimbro Legal Services

Marc Lauritsen Capstone Practice Systems

Overview

What is “e-lawyering” Some examples

Commercial online services Solo practice Big firm E-learning, web

communications Non-profits

Discussion Career planning implications

The task force The eLawyering Task Force is part of

the Law Practice Management section of the American Bar Association

Created in 1998.

Mission: learn and teach about the use of Internet technologies for legal work.

Special concern: how these technologies can help deliver legal services to low and moderate income clients more effectively.

What is “eLawyering”?

Lawyers doing their work using the Web and associated technologies.

These include new ways to: communicate and collaborate with

clients, prospective clients, and other lawyers (both within and beyond your office)

produce documents settle disputes manage legal knowledge

Lawyering verbs

interview investigate

counsel draft

advocate analyze

negotiate manage

research learn/teach

eLawyering tools

Online interviews Online factual research

Online advice systems

Web-based document assembly

Virtual court appearances

Online expert systems

Online dispute resolution

Case management

extranets

Online research e-learning

The service spectrum

Pro se, pro per, self-help, Do It Yourself

Assisted pro se, “unbundled” services, coaching, ghostwriting

Full service, leave it to the professional

The provider spectrum

Traditional law firms

Corporate law departments

Commercial lawyer-less sites

Mixed models

Government sites (courts, agencies)

Non-profit sites (legal services, law schools)

Roles of technology

Information (portals, legal reference sites, blogs, podcasts)

Personalized advice (interactive questionnaires, checklists)

Document preparation (document assembly)

Form submission (e-filing) Process assistance with

courts/agencies (docket, service, hearings, settlements, enforcement)

Examples

Cisco self-service contract builder

National non-profit legal services document assembly server

Law firm term sheet generators

Virtual law office services

Term sheet generators

SaaSy document preparation

Take-aways

eLawyering is lawyers using electronic networks creatively to deliver legal services

But non-lawyer “elegal services” are also changing the competitive landscape

Try to be motivated by the great opportunities, not by the threats

Some discussion topics

Career options and challenges New business forms for legal

service delivery New opportunities for equal

justice “Meta-lawyering” Knowledge and skills Ethics and public policy