North Carolina Bar Ethics Starts Inquiry into "Cloud Computing" for Law Firms
The Ethics Committee of the North Carolina Bar, in response to an inquiry from a law firm, is assessing whether a law firm can utilize "cloud-based" legal applications where client and other law firm data is stored on the Internet. It could result in a determination that law firms in North Carolina cannot operate as "virtual law firms."
Stephanie Kimbro, the founder of one of the first North Carolina virtual law firms, and Virtual Law Office Technology, Inc., a web-based virtual law firm services provider, and originally a North Carolina company, (now owned by TotalAttorneys, Inc., which is based in Chicago), has written an excellent post on this topic.
"Cloud Computing" enables solo practitioners and small law firms to provide online legal services to individuals and small business at affordable legal fees, and therefore enables them to compete effectively against non-law firm providers, such as LegalZoom, which also operates in "the cloud."
The eLawyering Task Force of the Law Practice Management Section of the American Bar Association has submitted a statement to the North Carolina Ethics Committee on the issue of the relationship of "cloud computing" to solos and small law firms. the delivery of online legal services, and access to the legal system by individuals of moderate income.
Interested parties who wish to submit comments, should submit them to:
Alice Neece Mine
Assistant Executive Director
North Carolina Bar Association
208 Fayetteville Street Mall
PO Box 25908
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-5908
EMAIL: amine@ncbar.gov
This looks like a step in the right direction for raising awareness about the vast benefits of elawyering applications. I am confident that the North Carolina Bar will lay the foundation for growth in this important area.
Matthew A. Pitts