The above is only partly a joke but the fact remains that most attorneys have to charge you a lot of money because they carry a lot of overhead. Your fees pay for their office, utilities, secretary, law clerk and of course their time and work. Not to mention a host of other things that pretty much have nothing to do with what it takes to represent you effectively like coffee, furniture and magazines that you can read while you wait to see them. In the old days, attorneys banded together to share many expenses such as a common library, copyroom and receptionist pool. Thus was born the law firm. Few attorneys could afford a solo-practice.
Even though things are different today, many solo attorneys or small law firms believe that it is important to impress their clients with expensive "brick and mortar" offices. For some clients such amenities are comforting. They are willing to pay their attorney's bills even if they understand that a large portion of their fees are going to pay for such trappings.
A Virtual Law Office essentially means that I can provide all of the SERVICES you would expect from a "brick-n-mortar" law office but without having to factor into my bills the costs of maintaining such an office. The net result for you is that this helps keep my costs low and therefore my fees to you.
The most obvious drawback to this situation is that when I want to meet clients in person then I must travel to meet them at their home or at their business. I like to think that I am a lawyer who is willing to make old-fashioned "house-calls." That is one reason why I insist that I be pre-paid for a Complete Consultation, because I am going to be taking the time out of my schedule to visit you. But what is really remarkable is that other attorneys charge you just as much or more for YOU to come see them in their offices!
While working on your case, I will keep in touch with you via phone, mail and e-mail; and only meeting with you again when necessary to complete any business.
