Technology is changing the way attorneys do business. From things as simple as sending clients e-mails to more complicated technology like speech recognition software, there are many ways to incorporate technology into an elder law practice.
We've taken a look at some of the cutting-edge technologies available to attorneys. In addition, we report on the results of our recent survey of attorneys where we asked about the use of new technologies and interviewed attorneys who are trying some of them. (Thanks to all those who responded to the survey.) This week, we report our findings on a way to share documents and information with clients online.
Client Communication
While most elder law attorneys conduct at least some client communications via e-mail, another communication option is a "client portal," a system for sharing documents and information with clients online. The idea is that clients enter information into a Web form and that information is assembled into a document that is transmitted to the lawyer for review. According to our survey, there is interest among attorneys in this type service -- 52 percent of respondents indicated they were very interested in online client communication, and half are already using it (although many may have simply been referring to e-mail communication).
Richard Granat, co-chair of the ELawyering Task Force of the Law Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association, believes that portal technology can help small- to midsize law firms compete with non-legal companies with low prices, such as LegalZoom, by offering "unbundled" legal services over the Internet. In an ElderLawAnswers teleconference on On-Line Legal Services, Granat used SmarterWill.com, created by the Illinois estate planning firm of Hedeker & Perrelli, Ltd., as an example of what law firms can do with Internet technology. Hedeker & Perrelli services high-end clients, but started SmarterWill.com, which offers unbundled services, in order to compete with companies like LegalZoom. Clients can visit the Web site and purchase a will or a power of attorney over the Internet. If the client has more complicated needs, then the law firm suggests an in-person appointment.
Granat is the founder of DirectLaw, a company that creates a platform where clients can communicate with law firms online. Another company that offers law firms the ability to share documents with clients is FirmEx. It is unclear how much these technologies will change the legal business, but Granat believes that for younger clients, the Internet is the natural way to communicate.
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