Burton Law LLC

Virtual Law Office FAQ

Q. What is a Virtual Law Office?

 

A virtual law office is simply a 21st century way of delivering certain kinds of legal services to individuals and families from the comfort of their own home or office. From beginning to the end, a virtual law office enables the client to contact their attorney, communicate regarding their matter, and receive the services requested through the use of their computer, the phone, internet and a secure client portal. There is a demand for affordable and accessible legal services among the public, and thankfully technology has advanced to the point where it is now possible to fully service many individual’s transactional legal needs through the use of a website and secure client portal. These technological advances enable me, the attorney, to open a virtual law office with less of the traditional high cost overhead of a bricks and mortar operation. In turn, I am able to pass some cost savings on to you, the client, in the form of predictable flat fee rates and reasonable hourly fees. 

 

Q. What are some of the advantages of a Virtual Law Office?

 

CONVENIENCE--First, you don't have to leave your home to communicate with your attorney. In today's busy world, people oftentimes put off needed estate planning or business legal advice because they are simply "too busy." I understand the desire not to have another appointment to drive to at the end of a long workday. That is why I have structured my virtual law office to be convenient for you. Whether it is early in the morning, or late at night, you can get in touch with me via email or the use of your secure client portal. We can then arrange a convenient time to meet, via Skype or the phone, to discuss your needs. If you don't have time to meet but have a specific legal issue you want me to address...no problem! We can communicate via email or your secure client portal and I can begin working on your issue and if necessary drafting the documents you need. 

 

COST---A lot of time and money can be spent on things you don't need. I have worked at both mid-size and large law firms, and I have seen the increased overhead costs that come with a large staff of support people and large physical offices. While corporate America may sometimes need the services of a team of lawyers at a large law firm, for small businesses and most consumers, these high overhead costs are not necessary and can keep many people from seeking out the quality legal services they need. I have structured my law office to reduce the high overhead of a traditional "bricks and mortar" law office, while utilizing technology and my own efficient work techniques to deliver you high quality legal services at a reasonable price. I also understand that for certain services, many clients would rather be told how much something will cost, rather than an hourly rate. That is why I offer several flat fee estate planning and business law services. I also offer hourly rates for situations where that may be a better fit. Contact me and we will work to find the best and most cost effective solution to meet YOUR needs.

 

ACCESSIBILITY--No matter where you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota, you can receive quality legal services at a reasonable price. Perhaps you live in a rural area and the nearest lawyer is miles away. I have lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota my whole life, and I know what some winters can be like (I am sorry to bring this up, but see the photo of the Wisconsin Capitol during a blizzard on the right for a reminder). Sometimes, even 10 miles is too far when your town got 12 inches of snow the night before. Now you can contact me, and receive the legal advice or services you need right at your home. No need for a long drive to my office, simply login in to your secure client portal, or give me a call and we can get to work on your issue. I live and work from my home office in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, but I work with clients all across the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. No matter where you live in Wisconsin or Minnesota, I am happy to work with you to meet your legal needs.

 

Q. What about security?

 

My office primarily uses email and telephone to communicate with clients. For documents or information where sensitive information is shared, I encourage the use of encrypted email or I ask clients to send the information by U.S. Mail. I have an easy way that I can send you an encrypted email and you can send your information back via encrypted email. Do not worry, you do not have to be a tech wizard to use this encryption, it is as simple as clicking a button and following a few instructions. Please email me to request this encrypted email method if you wish to send sensitive information to my office such as social security numbers, tax information, or financial information. In most instances, it is not necessary to send this information to me, but for situations where it is required, you can utilize the encrypted email method I mentioned above, or simply drop your documents in the mail to my office. 

 

Please be aware that the "Contact" form on my website will simply send my office an email, and because email is not an encrypted secure form of communication, you should be careful about what information you share with your attorney via email. 

 

​

 

Q. I am ready to get started. How do I begin?

 

If you would like to request an appointment with me, simply click on the "Schedule Now" button on the right, and request a time for an initial client consultation. You may also contact me via the phone or email. You can find all that contact information listed on the "CONTACT" page of this website. Thanks for visiting my website; I look forward to hearing from you.