Stephanie operates a web-based Virtual Law Office (VLO) in North Carolina and will teach about all aspects of a virtual law practice in the 21st century at Solo Practice University™.
She is the co-founder of Virtual Law Office Technology, LLC (VLOTech) which creates and supports VLOs for solo and small firm practitioners nationwide. Her virtual law practice has been featured in Lawyers USA, The Federal Lawyer, NC Lawyers Weekly and National Magazine’s /Addendum/.
Stephanie is interested in technology and ethics issues in virtual law practice and writes about these topics on her blog, Virtual Law Practice. She has presented a CLE for the NC Bar Association’s GP/Solo and Small Firm Symposium on ethics issues in virtual law practice.
Stephanie received her JD from the University of Dayton School of Law, a law school with a nationally recognized Law and Technology Program. She also holds an MA from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Stephanie is looking forward to sharing her elawyering experience and providing students with the information they need to hang a virtual shingle, either as a solo or in conjunction with a traditional law office.
Stephanie also maintains a website and the blog, Virtual Law Practice.
Syllabus
General Course Goal
At the end of this course, my goal is for the students to have the resources that they need to open a virtual law office and to operate that virtual practice with strong ethical and professional standards to provide quality online legal services to the public.
Outline of Course (order may be changed depending on feedback from the students or some topics may be divided into two parts)
What is a Virtual Law Office?
- Discussion from other Virtual Attorneys operating VLOs
- A brief history of virtual law practice
- Where we are today
Understanding the Technology to Run a VLO
- Secure HTTP
- SSL Certificates
- Encryption
- Best Practices
Complying with your State Bar
- Ethics and Professional Rules of Conduct regarding Websites/Advertising/Collection of Data/Online Payments, etc. and how to interpret those rules into a virtual law practice.
- A look at some State Bars’ opinion specifically addressing virtual law practice and the different compliance issues
Remote Lawyering with a VLO
- Mobile Device Options and Secure Practices
Secure Practices with a VLO
- Encryption
- Internet Security
- How to stay safe when you have to use email
- Metadata
Electronic Discovery and the VLO
Creating the Attorney Client Relationship with a VLO
- Clickwrap Agreements
Defining the Scope of Representation
- Engagement and Disengagement Notices
Virtual Law Office Management
- Hiring a VA for your VLO
- Using other software programs with your VLO
- Adding a VLO to a traditional law office
Online VLO Payments
- PCI Compliance
- PayPal vs. Other Credit Card Processing Companies
- General and Trust Accounting Issues
Marketing Best Practices for a VLO
Alternative Billing Methods and the VLO
The Future of Virtual Law Practice