The Virtual Lawyer
“Broadband… is freeing us from the geographic restrictions. Will this trend continue to gain momentum? Hard to say, but early indicators show that office is where the laptop is.”
Welcome to the virtual worker of recent fame — and the subject and object of Om Malik’s new blog, Web Worker Daily. He hopes it will provide aid and comfort to the geek diaspora.
Which it may. But it got me thinking about the virtual lawyer. I suppose there have always been lawyers who practised alone out of a room in the house. But I wonder whether, now that broadband is working its magic, we might not see the Starbuck’s lawyer, an office-free solo practitioner (or virtual associate / partner) who does it all with the MacBook Pro and that fancy EV DO PC card that Joel Alleyne keeps extolling. Skype, Google mail etc… hardly any overhead except the cost of lattes. Heck, it might be that this is already commonplace, as associates simply remove themselves from the physical firm without bothering to, well, bother the partners with that fact. If I can put up a website in a couple of days that looks and works exactly like the best of breed, why can’t I practice crackerjack law anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world where it’s always casual Friday?
Anyone know of anyone doing it? No need to mention names if that would be… indiscreet.
As I write this I’m sitting next to the bonfire by the Bay 1,500 km from my home office – happily the wireless (satellite downlink, to wifi with signal extenders) reaches the shore – after spending several hours working on client matters on – yes, a MacBook Pro. A few client calls round out the day.
We can do this pretty much anywhere. Yes, we are out there.