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Posts Tagged ‘unbundling’

Free Online Course on Digital Law Practice

06 Feb

The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal InstructionThe Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) is offering a free online course on digital law practice, primarily for law students and law professors, but anyone can register.

 

I don’t doubt that most law faculty will find these topics to be irrelevant, but its connecting with law students, as over 500 law students have registered nationwide.

For lawyers interested in delivering legal services online, this course would be a good introduction to the subject.

The first session is February 10 at 2-3 EST. Stephanie Kimbro is doing a session on the virtual law office.

Later in the course, Marc Lauritsen is doing a session on document automation, and I am doing a session on “unbundling legal services”.

Here are some of the other sessions:

Week 5: Online Legal Forms in Legal Aid
Friday, Mar. 9, 2-3pm ET
Ronald W. Staudt, Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law

Week 6: Contract Standardization
Friday, Mar. 16, 2-3pm ET
Kingsley Martin, President, kiiac.com & contractstandards.com

Week 7: Free Legal Research Tools
Friday, Mar. 23, 2-3pm ET
Sarah Glassmeyer, Director of Content Development / Law Librarian, CALI

Week 8: Unauthorized Practice of Law in the 21st Century
Friday, Mar. 30, 2-3pm ET
William Hornsby, Staff Counsel at American Bar Association

Week 9: Social Media for Lawyers
Friday, Apr. 6, 2-3pm ET
Ernest Svenson, Attorney at Law

Here is the course description and the registration page:

http://www.cali.org/blog/2012/01/25/free-online-course-digital-law-practice

 
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Posted in automation, digital, Document Automation, elawyering, eLawyering Events, Kimbro, lawyering, Marc, office, practice, Ron, services, Stephanie, training and education, Unauthorized Practice of Law, unbundled legal services, virtual, web-enabled document assembly

 

The Unbundling of Legal Services

04 Oct

What can you do if you have a legal issue for which you cannot afford to retain a lawyer (but you do have some money) or you feel the issue is simple enough for you to handle on your own, but you need a little guidance? Perhaps you would like to use a lawyer for certain parts of your case such as:

  • To provide advice, information about the law, procedures to follow;
  • Completing crucial forms;
  • Review forms you prepared;
  • Conducting legal research; or
  • Representation at critical court hearings (perhaps you want to represent yourself to reach a settlement but want a lawyer in case the case goes to trial).

A lawyer providing limited representation for a client must follow Rule 1.2 division (c) of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct which states:

“A lawyer may limit the scope of a new or existing representation if the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and communicated to the client, preferably in writing.”

So as long as the limited representation is reasonable under the circumstances and preferably in writing, then it is allowable. However, many lawyers are still reluctant to enter into such agreements. Some find it difficult to communicate the limitations and fear misunderstandings with the client. Some are busy enough representing clients on a full-time basis that they don’t need to engage in limited representation. Others are just traditionalists and historically, this was not how legal services were rendered. Some attorneys will provide limited representation as long as it does not involve appearing in court. It is difficult to start handling a matter without knowing what previously happened in court. Also, once an attorney makes an appearance in court, the court must approve a subsequent withdrawal.

This should not stop you from inquiring about a limited representation arrangement if you feel it is right for you in your situation. This site’s administrator, Jason Kasunick, is an Ohio attorney who does engage in limited representation arrangements under the right circumstances. Please feel free to contact him at (216) 245-7375 or through the email form on the Contact Us page to learn more.

 
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Posted in About Lawyers