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RE: Emailing: Legal Blog Watch

I wouldn't think it would work for the type of law that any of you do, I thought it was an interesting business model more than anything.   In your industry I don't know if there is a way to hire law clerks or paralegals on a telecommuting basis in a cheaper venue than your home offices.  However, since then you would probably have to rewrite anything that they did it may not net a cost savings.  
 I am always looking at different models for my industry, most are not applicable because my client base is very specific.  However, sometimes by reviewing different models I can glean an interesting approach for one facet of my business.  Since I originally started my business in the commercial industry I understand the differences of that industry vs serving the govt.  The govt basically requires much more infrastructure than a commericial model.  Most of my competitors, particularly in DoD move slower than molasses in hiring personnel, so I approach hiring more like a commercial firm and hire recruiters specifically from that industry.  It makes us quicker to the finish line with the right candidates at the right prices more often, which has been critical for growth.  And yes I agree I wouldn't want criminals in my home..  The multi-million dollar technology sounds more like something our govt would do in spending more money than they take in, so no I agree, I don't see that as a viable business model.  However, in my company we continue to invest in technology platforms that gives us efficiencies for scale and reduces the number of personnel required to support our billable personnel. 
At any rate, it was like I said just an interesting angle on your industry, the legal industry and I do understand that each of you must meet with clients in a professional setting.  It is probably most appropriate for standard docs/contracts that type of work.
 
 
Lisa N. Wolford
CSSS.NET
402-393-8059w
402-393-1825f
www.csss.net <http://www.csss.net/> 
SDVOB, 8(a)/SDB & WOB - TS clearances

________________________________

From: Haytham Faraj [mailto:haytham@puckettfaraj.com]
Sent: Mon 08/22/2011 5:42 PM
To: Wolford Lisa
Cc: Kevin Duff; Puckett Neal
Subject: Re: Emailing: Legal Blog Watch


Thanks for sharing this. We began our firm with the idea that we would be virtual and try to pass the savings on to our clients. Unfortunately, that worked for many of our clients but not all. The majority of clients want to personally engage the lawyer. They want to speak to her and assess the person before they decide to leave their fate in her hands. Axiom and Clearspire models work because they are transactional law law firms. When a client has a matter that requires litigation, clients will often want to meet the lawyers in their work place before they trust the lawyer with the matter. Because I do lots of criminal defense, I'm reluctant to do that at home. I was curious about the multimillion dollar technology platform that is used to connect lawyers and clients and how that amounts to savings?

Haytham Faraj 
Sent from my iPad

On Aug 22, 2011, at 3:31 PM, "Wolford Lisa" <lisa@csss.net> wrote:



	Hi Guys -

	I read this article in the economist the other day and thought you might be interested in this trend since it is your business arena.

	 

	 

	« Monday's Three Burning Legal Questions <http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2011/08/mondays-three-burning-legal-questions.html>  | Main <http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/>  | Tuesday's Three Burning Legal Questions » <http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2011/08/tuesdays-three-burning-legal-questions-2.html>  

	'The Economist' Examines Emerging Alternatives to Traditional Law Firms

	In an article <http://www.economist.com/node/21525907>  last week, The Economist takes a look at a few ways that technology is providing clients with alternatives to traditional law firms. These alternatives include things like LawPivot <https://www.lawpivot.com/> , which some have compared <https://www.lawpivot.com/staticontent/press/#techcrunch3>  to "Quora <http://www.quora.com/>  for legal advice." [Note to self: Learn what Quora is so that I can possibly then understand what LawPivot is.] They also include "unconventional law firms" such as Axiom <http://www.axiomlaw.com/index.php/homepage/home>  and Clearspire <http://www.clearspire.com/>  that are pursuing new business models.

	I have mentioned Axiom before, noting its highly personal approach <http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2010/06/axiom-a-personal-approach-to-the-law-firm-website.html>  to the law firm website, which includes huge, day-in-the-life photos of Axiom lawyers doing things like gardening, having breakfast with their families or dancing. The Economist adds that Axiom, which is now 11 years old, has been able to grow its revenue steadily as companies seek ways to trim their legal spending: from $55 million in 2008, to $80 million in 2010, to an expected $120 million in 2011. Axiom differs from most firms in that it typically does not charge by the hour, but rather agrees to a flat fee for a project or for a set period of time that one of its teams will be engaged. It is also different from most law firms in that it employs only experienced lawyers, maintains little office space and charges significantly lower rates than most big law firms (about $200 an hour for highly experienced lawyers, according to a Daily Journal article <http://www.axiomlaw.com/Docs/SF%20Daily%20Journal%20-%20Jan%202010.pdf>  written in early in 2010).

	Another law firm discussed by The Economist is Clearspire. Clearspire is made up of approximately 20 lawyers who work from home but "collaborat[e] on a multi-million-dollar technology platform that mimics a virtual office." Clients can use the platform, as well, to do things like make changes to their own documents. With respect to billing, The Economist states that

		From the start, Clearspire offers cost estimates for each phase of a legal job. Employees who underestimate how long it will take cannot simply jack up the bill-they must take the hit themselves. But if a lawyer finishes his work faster than promised, he gets a third of the savings. The client also gets a third, as does Clearspire. This gives everyone a stake in making the process more efficient and predictable.

	Clearspire also has an unusual, dual corporate structure: it consists of a law firm with salaried lawyers, and also a separate entity that is responsible for business development.

	Posted by Bruce Carton on August 15, 2011 at 01:30 PM | Permalink <http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2011/08/in-an-article-last-week-the-economist-takes-a-look-at-a-few-ways-that-technology-is-providing-clients-with-alternatives-to-t.html>  | Comments (1) <http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2011/08/in-an-article-last-week-the-economist-takes-a-look-at-a-few-ways-that-technology-is-providing-clients-with-alternatives-to-t.html#comments>  


	Comments


	'The Economist' Examines Emerging Alternatives to Traditional Law Firms

	In an article <http://www.economist.com/node/21525907>  last week, The Economist takes a look at a few ways that technology is providing clients with alternatives to traditional law firms. These alternatives include things like LawPivot <https://www.lawpivot.com/> , which some have compared <https://www.lawpivot.com/staticontent/press/#techcrunch3>  to "Quora <http://www.quora.com/>  for legal advice." [Note to self: Learn what Quora is so that I can possibly then understand what LawPivot is.] They also include "unconventional law firms" such as Axiom <http://www.axiomlaw.com/index.php/homepage/home>  and Clearspire <http://www.clearspire.com/>  that are pursuing new business models.

	I have mentioned Axiom before, noting its highly personal approach <http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2010/06/axiom-a-personal-approach-to-the-law-firm-website.html>  to the law firm website, which includes huge, day-in-the-life photos of Axiom lawyers doing things like gardening, having breakfast with their families or dancing. The Economist adds that Axiom, which is now 11 years old, has been able to grow its revenue steadily as companies seek ways to trim their legal spending: from $55 million in 2008, to $80 million in 2010, to an expected $120 million in 2011. Axiom differs from most firms in that it typically does not charge by the hour, but rather agrees to a flat fee for a project or for a set period of time that one of its teams will be engaged. It is also different from most law firms in that it employs only experienced lawyers, maintains little office space and charges significantly lower rates than most big law firms (about $200 an hour for highly experienced lawyers, according to a Daily Journal article <http://www.axiomlaw.com/Docs/SF%20Daily%20Journal%20-%20Jan%202010.pdf>  written in early in 2010).

	Another law firm discussed by The Economist is Clearspire. Clearspire is made up of approximately 20 lawyers who work from home but "collaborat[e] on a multi-million-dollar technology platform that mimics a virtual office." Clients can use the platform, as well, to do things like make changes to their own documents. With respect to billing, The Economist states that

		From the start, Clearspire offers cost estimates for each phase of a legal job. Employees who underestimate how long it will take cannot simply jack up the bill-they must take the hit themselves. But if a lawyer finishes his work faster than promised, he gets a third of the savings. The client also gets a third, as does Clearspire. This gives everyone a stake in making the process more efficient and predictable.

	Clearspire also has an unusual, dual corporate structure: it consists of a law firm with salaried lawyers, and also a separate entity that is responsible for business development.

	View the entire comment thread. <http://profile.typepad.com/services/embed/tpc/6a00d8341cce2453ef00d8341cce2953ef/thread?permalink=http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2011/08/in-an-article-last-week-the-economist-takes-a-look-at-a-few-ways-that-technology-is-providing-clients-with-alternatives-to-t.html>  

	 

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