User Information Forms have been updated to add more information and accommodate the requirements of some of our non-US attorneys.  Prospective clients are asked whether they are requesting legal services as an individual or organization.  Additional fields include questions  related to the organization or company’s nature of business, the position or title of the individual registering on behalf of the organization or company and other relevant information related to an entity that may request legal services through a VLO.

VLO Activity Summary Views

New summary views were added for specific activities. New options are located under “Latest Revisions” located in the main VLO menu bar.  Latest Revisions may be sorted by the following categories: Cases, Discussions, Events, Files, Forms, Charges, Invoices and Payments.

This update is designed to assist attorneys who are handling large amounts of activity on their VLO and have started assigning specific tasks by process to additional attorneys or legal assistants rather assigning the work by case.  As an attorney’s online client base grows, this tool will be useful for organizing the VLO workflow.

File Uploads

The file upload workflow has been changed so that any incomplete file meta data is requested after the file has been uploaded. Generic defaults are used to allow the file upload process to complete and the client is redirected to the file edit form if any additional information is required.

Credit Card Processing

The Authorize.Net module was updated to provide a new field required by the credit card processing service.

If you have questions about the latest update to the software or if you would like information about our product, please contact us at launch@vlotech.com.

The experiences of these virtual firms, large or small, suggest that they provide a win-win for lawyers and clients. Because the firms rely on experienced lawyers and slash overhead by eliminating large offices and administrative infrastructure, lawyers can charge substantially less for the same services provided by a large firm. …As for the lawyers themselves, virtual practices offer more flexibility.

The article also links to the Virtual Law Practice blog authored by VLOTech co-founder Stephanie Kimbro which links to a number of solo and small firm virtual law practices operating with the VLOTech software.

The article concludes that virtual law practice is more than just a passing trend and is “part of the next wave of lawyering.”  The article discusses how a virtual law practice may be used in addition to or as an alternative to a traditional law practice.  In reference to the benefits of operating a virtual law practice, the authors write:

This  flexibility also translates into greater control over work-life balance; lawyers with a virtual practice can work not only wherever but also whenever they want to. And newfound technology allows lawyers to communicate and collaborate online with clients, other lawyers, paralegals, and assistants, irrespective of the physical distance that separates each from the other.

The article recommends that attorneys who are considering virtual law practice first consult with the company providing the software as a service product to have all of their questions addressed regarding the security of the system, data return and retention, among other concerns related to taking a law practice online.

VLOTech has addressed many of these questions in our Faqs page as well as on our newly added Resources page.  In addition, we would be happy to answer any other questions or concerns about our virtual law practice product.  Please contact us at launch@vlotech.com for more information.

]]> http://www.vlotech.com/blog/vlotech-featured-in-aba-gpsolo-magazine/feed/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/vlotech-featured-in-aba-gpsolo-magazine/ http://feeds.g2webmedia.net/~r/VLOTech/~3/XevxRPL53sY/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/transitioning-with-a-virtual-law-practice/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:24:47 +0000 Stephanie Kimbro http://www.vlotech.com/?p=421 A new post over at the Virtual Law Practice blog, written by VLOTech co-founder and virtual law office owner, Stephanie Kimbro, discusses ways to use a virtual law practice to transition between different phases in a legal career.   Moving to a new state, easing into retirement or finding a new job in a traditional law firm, a VLO could be used to make that transition as well as turn into a  full-time method of practicing law online.

]]> http://www.vlotech.com/blog/transitioning-with-a-virtual-law-practice/feed/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/transitioning-with-a-virtual-law-practice/ http://feeds.g2webmedia.net/~r/VLOTech/~3/vq9hNL4jdJI/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/software-update-managing-vlo-activity/#comments Fri, 29 May 2009 15:49:43 +0000 Stephanie Kimbro http://www.vlotech.com/?p=413

An update has been made to the VLOTech software to include the following items:

Managing Recent VLO Activity

The VLOTech software has a number of new features to better summarize the most recent activity that has occurred on a VLO.  Attorneys have a new menu option that offers a summary overview. This new management section will continue to be expanded to offer different at-a-glance summaries of various sections of the software.

Additionally, individual client cases now show more information in the summary notes that will detail the most recent changes to that case.  This will allow the attorney to quickly view their or their client’s last actions taken within that case file.  For example, the attorney will be able to review the summary to see that the last update to the case was a new file upload from their client or that a payment has been made to an online invoice.

In conjunction with the improvement to at-a-glance summaries, improvements to contextual links have been made which will help to streamline case management workflow.

Case Quote Form

The case quote form has been updated to improve usability.

Calendar Events

Events created by clients within their cases now indicate more clearly to the client that these requested, scheduled events are unconfirmed until the attorney reviews the request.  Attorneys can confirm these calendar events by editing them and updating the confirmed status.

Registration of New Online Clients

A new option has been added to the site configuration file to turn registration alerts on and off.  Because no single attorney is assigned to a case until it is created, all registration alerts will be sent to the main VLO email account rather than to every individual attorney working on the VLO. By default this alert will be turned on for each VLO.

Continuing Work on Software Development Requests

There were also a number of behind the scenes updates made to the software.  These were either new software libraries being added in preparation for future updates or were administrative tools used by VLOTech to better manage your VLO. As always, we appreciate our clients’ constructive feedback and ideas for future development of the software.

If you have any questions about the latest update of the VLOTech software or would like more information about our product, please contact us at launch@vlotech.com.

In the area of business law, the virtual law practice will specifically focus on small business owners, offering legal services in the areas of small business set-up, document and contract review, drafting and negotiations, risk management, and will offer a preventive law program for its small business clients. In the area of estate planning, the firm will provide services to individuals and their families focusing on wills, trusts, health care directives, guardian nominations and other legal document drafting.

Given the economic downturn, coupled with newly displaced workers who were frustrated with the job market and were now looking to start up their own businesses, Kerry saw an opportunity to provide more affordable legal services to such individuals. By providing excellent customer service, personalized legal counsel, offering alternative pricing options, and utilizing advanced technology, Slatter Law aims to provide clients with a unique, affordable and memorable online legal experience.

Slatter states,

I have had a wide range of professional experiences, from working as a Law Fellow at a legal aid office after graduating from law school, to working in the private sector in various contract and management roles at both large and small telecommunications companies. It’s my unique work experience on the business side of a deal as well as my legal experience (reviewing, drafting, and negotiating simple and complex contracts) on the other side of a deal which allows me to look at both points of view to find unique options and a fair balance that both sides may benefit from.

To read more about Slatter Law’s Virtual Law Office, please visit the website.

Rice Law provides family law, estate planning and other legal services through its VLO.  Clients who are located overseas are able to log in to their own secure homepages where they may download and review documents from their attorney, discuss their legal matters online, pay for legal services and transact other business that they would otherwise not be able to handle as easily or as privately while being stationed overseas.

Many soldiers stationed overseas  have legal needs pertaining to the laws of the state where their family resides back home.  These may include family law issues, such as divorce, child support or child custody, or estate planning, that cannot wait until the soldier returns home.  However, these soldiers may have limited access to an attorney while stationed overseas.  A VLO allows attorneys to address this public need and deliver legal services online securely and efficiently.

Ferraris obtained a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Tennessee and graduated with high honors from the U.T. College of Law.  He is a proud member of the American, Tennessee, and Knoxville Bar Associations.  In addition to his virtual law practice, Ferraris serves as Director of “Hit the Road, Leukemia,” an annual event that raises funds to benefit blood cancer research efforts.

From the Ferraris Law Group VLO website:

Because our firm does not pay for fancy office space in an ivory tower, we don’t need to charge you as much for our services.

Because our firm does not send out letter after letter to our clients, we not only save our clients’ money, we also reduce paper waste.

The Online Office relationship encourages communication with our clients.  In fact, we’ve thrown out the time clocks so you never have to be afraid to contact us with a quick question.  Everything we do is billed on a flat-fee basis, agreed to in advance, so there are never any surprises.

To read more about the Ferraris Law Group, please visit the website.

]]> http://www.vlotech.com/blog/ferraris-law-group-launches-vlo-in-tennessee/feed/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/ferraris-law-group-launches-vlo-in-tennessee/ http://feeds.g2webmedia.net/~r/VLOTech/~3/81BDKEb7niY/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/wright-loyer-pllc-virtual-law-office-opens-in-kentucky/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 15:00:28 +0000 Stephanie Kimbro http://www.vlotech.com/?p=385 VLOTech is pleased to announce the opening of Wright Loyer, PLLC, a virtual law firm based in Kentucky.  Operated by attorneys Robert Wright and Mike Loyer, the virtual law practice provides Intellectual Property Law, Business Law and Estate Planning legal services online.

Robert Wright earned his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law  and his L.L.M. in Intellectual Property, Commerce and Technology from the Franklin Pierce Law Center.  Wright is the published author of several  articles on the subjects of trademark registration, movie piracy, and cyber-bullying.

Mike Loyer earned his B.A. from Marshall University and his MBA from Morehead State University.  Loyer worked in the Information Technology industry for several years before  earning his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law.

The website for Wright Loyer PLLC, designed by G2WebMedia, contains a blog with information on each of the legal practice areas provided by the virtual law practice, including Business Services, Estate Planning and Intellectual Property Law.  The practice also provides a list of fixed fee prices for the delivery of online legal services.  To read more about Wright Loyer, PLLC, please visit the website.

]]> http://www.vlotech.com/blog/wright-loyer-pllc-virtual-law-office-opens-in-kentucky/feed/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/wright-loyer-pllc-virtual-law-office-opens-in-kentucky/ http://feeds.g2webmedia.net/~r/VLOTech/~3/lxQfvxfriqg/ http://www.vlotech.com/blog/update-includes-support-of-additional-online-vlo-payment-processing/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:21:40 +0000 Stephanie Kimbro http://www.vlotech.com/?p=374 A recent update to the VLOTech software includes the items listed below.  Many of these improvements are behind the scenes and contribute to the flow and security of the system.

Online Payments

Improvements have been made to the payment process when clients choose to pay the attorney by check through their VLO homepage.  The online payment system also now supports online payment processing through Authorize.Net.  Any VLOTech clients  interested in changing the online payment options offered to clients may contact us for more information through the VLOTech account site.

Case View

Files may now be uploaded from multiple locations.  This feature update was at the request of one of our attorney clients and should improve the online workflow and useability on  clients’ homepages.  The option to upload files to the VLO are located under the “Files” section of your VLO and “View Files” section of your client’s case file as well as underneath the “Discussion” section of the main case view.

Client Management

Attorneys have more control when resetting client passwords.

Resources

Improvements to Form management were made. The system now allows the attorney to delete master forms while handling orphaned forms still attached to cases.

File Management

Improvements to File management were made.