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Videoconferencing for lawyers: How and why to implement it
Law firms are often on the go, and online videoconsultation is a great way to reduce travel time without compromising quality. It can also help your law firm stay connected with clients who may not be in the same city as you’re located in. This post will give you an overview of online videoconferencing, how it works, and why online video consulting should be part of your law firm’s strategy.
What is a videoconference?
To quickly answer this question, a videoconference is when two or more people can communicate online, in real time, using audio and video.
Why use online video consultation? BENEFITS!
The advantages of online video consultation are innumerable:Â
- Greater convenience for your clients (they can connect with you from home).Â
- Increased accessibility (no need to travel long distances), saving money on gas/airfare.
- Increased efficiency by reducing the number of scheduled phone calls needed between parties involved in a case, cost savings as online consultations are not usually charged at full hourly rates, etc.
- By using online video consultation instead of traveling across town several times a week, law firms can save valuable work hours without losing the quality of online video consultation.
What are some online videoconferencing options?
There are several online solutions out there, including Google Hangouts and Skype both free services. You can also use an online web-conferencing program like Adobe Connect or WebinarJam which usually have a small fee to pay per month based on number of participants in your conference call/webinar session. I recommend trying out one service at first before committing to it for all consultations with clients moving forward so you know what works best for your law firm’s needs. Another option is hiring someone outside of your law firm that has knowledge about online video conferencing (such as Virtual Practice Manager) who can set up meetings via different online systems, help you get online (just like setting up online faxing), and act as a point of contact for clients. This is an ideal solution if the time required to schedule consultations becomes too much of burden on your law firm’s resources or if online videoconferencing will be part of your business strategy moving forward in order to compete with other firms that are already offering this service.
How do I implement online videoconsultation at my Law Firm?
The first step would be figuring out which online video conferencing system you want to use many offer free trials so it’s worth trying them all out before making any commitment when choosing one platform over another. You’ll also need someone within your law firm who is able to set up online videoconferencing sessions, manage online scheduling for you and your team members, help clients get online during the call so they can participate in a way that’s most beneficial to them (some prefer text chat over video), etc. This person will likely need some training on how each platform works as well since not all systems are created equally – one may have better features than another which might be more appealing to certain clients over others depending on their needs.
Once you’ve decided what online solution is right for your law firm it’s time to educate yourself about best practices when using online video conferencing platforms, such as where/how often should I meet with my client(s)? What types of cases work best online vs. in-person? How do I handle online scheduling with clients who prefer to use text chat instead of video conferencing? What types of online videoconferences work best for different cases – a motion hearing, settlement conference or mediation session? etc.
Easing into online videoconsultation is the key to ensuring it’s successful within your law firm since all people are used to doing things one way but not necessarily another. Online collaboration can be beneficial if done correctly and at the right time/in certain situations so make sure you think about what makes sense for your law firm before implementing online videoconferencing as an integral part of your business strategy moving forward.
What online videoconferencing platforms do you recommend?
We recommend Adobe Connect for online video conferencing because it offers a free trial so you can try all the features and see what works best before you commit. As part of our business strategy, which we implement for our clients, online consultations are expected in law firms and clients expect us to use online solutions that help them save time and money, just as they do. Since this is something we plan to maintain as part of the way we conduct our clients' business, we need software that meets both our clients' needs and their clients' needs, which means having access to the most comprehensive platform with useful features (such as text chat) available at this time. You may find other systems more suitable for your law firm depending on what you're looking for in online software, but I recommend you try Adobe Connect, as you can try it out and use it with no strings attached.
How often should you conduct online video consultations with your clients?
Ideally we should meet via online video conference on a weekly basis due to the convenience factor, not only is it more convenient, online consultations are also less expensive compared to traditional in-person meetings, which saves both you and your clients time and money. Using online solutions makes sense so that our clients are not worried about how they will be able to participate during an online consultation if physical location limits them from being able to attend in-person meetings.
What types of cases are more suited for online videoconferences?
We would say any case that does not require face-to-face meetings, especially those where physical location limits participation or makes things difficult. Online consultations are also ideal for cases where there are co-defendants, meaning that each can participate in an online videoconference without having to speak directly to the other during the meeting. Other examples of cases that are best suited online include: personal injury claims and family law matters (property division), as both parties can participate online at their convenience, saving time and money by not having to travel for a face-to-face consultation.
Would you recommend online videoconferencing over telephone conferences?
Both options are great, depending on the type of information that needs to be shared between the parties: if it’s something more formal, I would opt for online video conferencing, while phone calls work best when there are informal conversations to be had or when you don’t have to go back and forth during the call, which means fewer interruptions/disruptions from other members of my firm who also want to use the conference line. While online consultations are nothing new, they are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience compared to traditional meetings. With online video conferencing, I can hold online meetings with clients anywhere in the world at any time, which saves a lot of time and money. In fact, my law firm has been using online videoconferencing for years and we have received nothing but positive feedback from our clients, as it also saves us time.
What can online conferencing do for your legal practice?
When it comes to online consultations, it has made scheduling appointments easier, as all parties involved know exactly when they are available, without the need to keep playing phone or email games with each other. This ensures that everyone has the opportunity to participate during their scheduled consultation rather than feeling that someone ends up taking priority over them because of their physical location. Online videoconferencing has also helped thousands of law firms save money by reducing travel time and expenses, which is a win-win for everyone involved; clients no longer have to take time off work or make special arrangements to meet with their lawyers online, meaning they can focus more attention on the case at hand rather than rushing off mid-meeting due to an emergency call
