Stefanie+BurtonBragg


 * Homework #1 **

Part I

- Five **good** things about running a virtual law practice. What are the advantages over an entirely office-bound practice. What are the efficiencies gained, money made or saved, etc. - Don't have to pay for a physical office space (lower overhead); easier to communicate with more tech-savvy clientele; easier to keep records (less space than paper records); attracts clients (many start looking online first for a lawyer); quicker mode of communication than in person

- Five things that could go **wrong** running a virtual law practice. What are the mistakes you can make, problems you could encounter, issues raised, etc. - Lose clients that aren't tech-savvy (older generation or those w/o access to computers); the system could crash and destroy your practice; easier to get distracted if you work from home; clients may want to pay less because they don't see you in a big, impressive office; lose space in your home to set up your office

Part II

- Search the web and find at least three definitions for “Virtual Law Practice”, “Digital Law Practice” and/or “eLawyering”. Copy/paste the definitions into your homework wiki with a link back to the place you found. - virtual law practice -> " group of lawyers with diverse expertise that are banded together through technological means to provide a suite of services to its clients;" " a law firm that delivers legal services in a new and innovative way;" "characterized by access by the firm’s clients to a password protected and secure web space where both the attorney and client may interact and legal services are consumed by the client" - digital law practice -> - eLawyering -> "all the ways in which lawyers can do their work using the Web and associated technologies"


 * Homework #2 **

Part I

- In your wiki homework page, list (at least) **FIVE** benefits/advantages to Document Automation. - more efficient; cheaper for lawyers and clients; simplifies transactions; easy for new associates to understand and use; sets precedent

- In your wiki homework page, list (at least) **FIVE** pitfalls/problems/barriers to Document Automation. - less attention to detail; have to continuously update to keep abreast of law; easy to make a mistake; counteroffers can change the details anyway; less attention to client needs

Part II

Document Automation Experience - Document automation is a clever idea for a high-volume firm that has a lot of DIY clients. Once established, it provides a less expensive alternative to having associates or paralegals prepare legal documents. It will also help attract clients beyond the automated documents. If they like your practical and efficient solution, then they’ll come back with their other legal questions because they trust you. On the other hand it could be a situation where the firm puts out a lot of money into a document automation system and people use it for their own devices and nothing comes out of it. They could use you, then lose you. It would also provide less income because clients wouldn’t come in and you couldn’t charge them for several hours of work at a paralegal or associate rate. The system also doesn’t work for people that don’t have access to computers or don’t like using computers. Document automation would be useful internally, but the client should still have more contact with the firm in order to mold the document to their ultimate needs.


 * Homework #3 **

(1) PG County District Court, (2) Court of Appeals of MD, (3) US District Court for the District of Maryland

- Does the court support efiling? If yes, what is the best URL? - (1) e-filing only for landlord/tenant cases ([]) - (2) no   - (3) yes ([] ) - Does the court support efiling for self-representing litigants? - (1) yes for L/T cases, (2) no, (3) yes - Does the court website have an online docket or calendar? (if yes, include a link) - (1) no, (2) yes ([] ), (3) yes ([] ) ( [] ) - Does the court website have any forms that can be used online or downloaded? (if yes, provide a link) - (1) yes ([] ), (2) no, (3) yes ([] )
 * Homework #4 **