Sometimes our lives take a spiral course instead of a linear one and no matter how much we want to control or change its course, it is not listening to us. The truth is, however, that I believe in one's capacity to direct the wind sometimes. The point I am trying to make it is quite different. There are many careers out there that require lots of direction and changes throughout life, however, law seemed pretty straightforward to me. It projected a somewhat stable life and income, prestige, reputation, good name [...] you name it. One thing I've learned since joining the legal crew was that one of the skills least used is the ability to listen. Well maybe lawyers do listen to their clients, but they listen to respond and offer a solution most of the time, and we know that active listening is totally different. Too many lawyers struggle with listening to themselves. I found the same challenge while working with IT professionals. They know what they know and they are right to feel that way, but if you can't bring your message in a way that anyone can understand, than you are just wasting your time.
I am referring to these groups of people, because they are crossing each other's paths most of the time especially when we talk about the virtual law firms. As we very well know, a law firm would never become "virtual" without technology. I find it interesting, though, to watch how IT professionals create amazing products based on the assumption that those products will actually make lawyers' life easier, which it does happen a lot of the time, but many lawyers also struggle with using those tools because first of all they require time to learn and manage, which they find as an additional dish to their already full plate and not to mention the financial aspect. It is true that sometimes technology doesn't ease the workflow, but doubles it. I am saying this because I wish that those who invest their time and resources to build the products should also learn how to listen.
The reality of running a virtual law firm is that it doesn't necessarily guarantee a work-life balance and it can be as stressful as running a traditional one. Why? First of all because you will have less control over your staff and oftentimes lawyers think that control and micromanaging is the solution. Which in my opinion is a myth. The support staff doesn't need more control in a virtual environment, but more direction and guidance. In reality, the "so called leaders" of the law firms use control when they don't have time or will to come up with a solid training, guidance and support program for their team. The truth is that without such program, both virtual and traditional firms will lose.
Another aspect, which I've talked about in a previous article and is more a myth than reality, is that most states will require you to have a physical address where your official mail will be delivered as well. The reality is that you will be able to run your practice remotely, however, you will still have to come up with a plan regarding who will process those physical files and upload into the existing cloud, who will store and handle the original documents received? Here is where a huge chunk of the myth comes into place and a big loop whole in my opinion. Yes, the amazing legal tech companies out there are offering products that allow you to store your files and manage them, but no one talks about what actually happens to those physical files behind the door. Some courts don't accept e-filed documents for numerous reasons. Then, each associate that operates from the home office will have a personal paper filling system, which you have no way to manage, review or control. Can you rely on your associate to scan and load every piece of document received via mail? I am not sure. Lawyers don't have their own paralegals in their home office to do that and not sure that they are so excited to do that themselves, or even have time. To me, this is one of the areas that still has a lot of gaps that need to be filed, and maybe one of the predominant issue that will determine the success of a virtual firm.
What do you think?