(Webinar Slides) Virtual Lawyering: Growing a Global Practice

Virtual Lawyering: Growing a Global Practice

#GoingGlobal

About MyCase

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Web-Based Legal Practice Management SoftwareBuilt as a complete platform, MyCase offers features that seamlessly cover all the daily functions that a modern, small law firm requires in one place at an affordable price.

Just $39/month per attorney $29/month per paralegal or staff

MyCase Websites

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Jumpstart your marketing• Modern, professional design built for your firm• Social media and blog integration• Complete integration with MyCase• Basic SEO

About Our Presenter

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Priya Prakash Royal, Esq., LL.M. ‣ Managing Attorney at the Royal Law Firm PLLC

(est. 2009)‣ Business, Trusts & Estates and, Tax Law

‣ Former IRS attorney (Estate and Gift)‣ J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova

University School of Law ‣ Enjoys using skills beyond law in legal practice

to serve clients more efficiently and expediently. ‣ Active in five jurisdictions (NY, NJ, PA, MD and

DC) and conversant in over four languages

Across Jurisdictions: Growing a multijurisdictional practice

• Solo and Small Firm Attorneys: Expanding to a multijurisdictional practice

• Ethics and barriers of entry• Rules against the unauthorized practice of

Law: Example: Rule 49(a) D.C. Ct. of Appeals and ABA Model Rule 8.5(a):  ”A lawyer admitted to practice in this jurisdiction is subject to the disciplinary authority of this jurisdiction, regardless of where the lawyer’s conduct occurs.”

Across Jurisdictions, Cont'd• Focusing on practice areas instead of

jurisdictions• Professional liability insurance coverage

for multijurisdictional practitioners• Multijurisdictional transactional practice• Multijurisdictional litigation practice• Staying abreast on legal updates:

Resources, network and niches.

Poll: Multijurisdictional practice

Do you practice in multiple jurisdictions?

Yes. In three or fewer jurisdictions.Yes. In more than three jurisdictions.

No, but my clients are located in multiple ju-risdictions.

No, and my clients are locally situated. None of the above apply to me.

A virtual but traditional office• Law traditionally a local practice but changing –

creates opportunities for skilled attorneys with time and resource limitations

• Face-to-face meetings across timezones: Videoconferencing and the virtual office for global clients

• Use value added services to incorporate benefits of traditional brick and mortar office into a flexible remote office modelVirtual Office Staffing, Document Management Systems, Electronic Signature Tools, Modified Phone Systems, etc.

• Comply with Rules of Professional Conduct or Ethics in serving clients virtually - Example: Formal Opinion 2014-2: Use of a Virtual Law Office by New York Attorneys

Developing an expanded niche practice

• Find the best areas of practice – individual considerations

• ABA Model Rules 7.1, 7.2 and 7.4: The rules against “expertise” and advertising a niche practice

• Establish of counsel and co-counsel relationships. Ethical issues.

• Of Counsel rules: ABA Formal Op. 330 (1972) and ABA Formal Op. 90-357 (1990).

• Engagement letters and compensation agreements• Insurance coverage issues

Poll Slide #2: Niche practiceDo you have a niche practice?

Yes. I practice in one area of law exclusively.Yes. I focus on three or fewer practice areas.

Yes. I focus on more than three but closely related practice areas.No. I have a general practice.

None of the above apply to me.

Managing the expanded niche• Use relationships and resources in law and

beyond to serve the client’s needs. • Process and Project Management in Legal

Practice Example: using charts (Microsoft Project) to set timelines for a client seeking legal services in global expansion.

• Staff on a project basis and consult with a process management expert to determine resources, staff and prioritization necessary at onset of representation. Example: Business consultants to understand clients needs and structure legal transactions better

Practice management cont’d• Manage the “business of law.” Define the team. • “SOW” – Statement of Work. A fundamental

project management principle. • Develop a process management framework

and use it to add or reallocate resources (staff, tools, etc.) on a case by case basis.

• Handout: Managing the Case as a Project: Collaborations between Project Managers and Attorneys – Jeremy D. Royal, PMP, MBA.

Marketing and Advertising• Use social media effectively to advertise an

expanded niche practice• ABA Formal Op. 466 (2014). Example: New York

Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1(a). • Market in multiple jurisdictions without engaging in

the unauthorized practice of law• Develop client and non-legal professional

relationships to expand presence• Develop a socially responsible model for legal

practice to increase client satisfaction and abide by rules of professional ethics.

Poll Slide #3: Litigation or Transactional

Are you a transactional practitioner or a litigator?

LitigatorTransactional attorneyBoth. About equally.

Both. Primarily a litigatorBoth. Primarily a transactional attorney

Increasing ROR in a Virtual practice• Collaborate with experienced attorneys and legal

professionals• Retain staff on a project basis and provide virtual

tools for work. Use staff and technology for routine tasks.

• Develop law practice management goals based on serving clients without time or location barriers instead of reducing overhead.

• Focus on maximizing client services with the virtual office and service model.

• Incorporate technological resources to provide direct and personal communication with clients routinely

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Contact UsPriya Prakash Royal, Esq., LL.M.Royal Law Firm PLLC www.royalesq.comEmail: [email protected]: (800) 409-0211

[email protected]

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