I recently wrote an article for the Maryland Bar Journal (Nov/Dec 2014 edition) entitled Virtuality: The Lawyer that is Almost Really There, and I recently made a presentation on the same topic to the SL Bar Association. Please find a link here to the recording of the presentation.
Fundamentally, technology has significantly impacted the practice of law. Part of that impact has been felt in the greater access to information that previously was only available in proprietary database systems. Part of that impact has also been felt in more cost effective methods to acquire new clients and provide more access to the legal system through fixed cost or unbundled legal services that may be provided electronically. However, not all aspects of these changes have been welcomed by the legal marketplace with open arms. For one, our ethics rules have not embraced the changes driven by technology to the delivery of legal services, leaving the practicing lawyer with uncertainty about the ethics status of newer technologies available to support the practice of law. In addition, there are substantial questions about the security and integrity of some of the technology available to lawyers to support virtual practices. There is one constant: change, and one consistent struggle for all of us: trying to keep up with it.
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