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Used to changing situations - With the possible exception
of microprocessor speeds, few things change more frequently than federal
and state laws. Lawyers are used to dealing with frequent changes and rapidly
adapting their practices to benefit their clients. The rapid changes in
Internet technology are something that will not overwhelm most lawyers.
The real challenge will occur when other professions have established significant
revenue streams from their new business models and lawyers and their associations
decide that these new businesses have crossed over into the practice of
law.
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Very few people will go to court without a lawyer -
Lawyers have a monopoly in litigation and will for the foreseeable future.
Even in areas like mediation and arbitration, most peoplse will prefer
to have a lawyer as their representative.
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Unauthorized practice is much easier to monitor -
Not only does the Internet allow non-lawyers to market their legal related
services to a nationwide audience it makes it easy for anyone with an Internet
connection to monitor what they are doing. At the present time regulators
have generally been reluctant to try to apply rules designed for older
forms of media to new media ways of communications. A.G.s and disciplinary
commisions will find that when they do decide to move aggresively against
organizations that clearly are injurious to clients, that accessing the
offending material will not be difficult.
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Lawyers frequently work remotely - Lawyers being a
service business have often traveled to distant client's office or courthouses.
While there they have often continued to work on other matters. In their
offices, they frequently deal with clients across the US and the world.
Telecommuting may hurt the sale of blue pinstripe suits, but it will not
be a signifianct change for many lawyers who have been working remotely
for years.
Team approach is practice as usual for lawyers -
Lawyers are well suited to the virtual team approach of the modern corporation.
Teams composed of fellow employees at multiple locations, in-house consultants,
special experts and outside vendors is just another day at the office,
at the courthouse, on the road or at the beach for today's lawyer.
Copyright 1998 Web Counsel, LLC
