This is the post everyone has been waiting for. To be frank, here’s what you need to know:
This is a blog post about how using virtual courts can save time and money in this down economy. A virtual court is just what it sounds like, a courtroom with all of the same proceedings but with no need for physical transportation or housing. For example, you can try www denvercountycourt org virtual court for better experience. With some imagination and creativity, these courts are actually cheaper than traditional ones and the savings that come from them can make a significant difference in your bottom line.
Secrets to virtual court are:
1- An Attractive Price
The typical rate for a traditional court is around $1500 per hour, plus costs for filing fees and court reporter fees. A virtual court can cost as little as $300 to file and up to $500 for a full-blown trial. For example: I was sick this past week and missed work. Instead of leaving town for court, I just worked from my home office (because my office is actually in my house). This seemed a bit silly because as an attorney, if you lose track of your client you’re screwed (and we all know that sometimes happens. No matter how organized we are, we always have a client that takes hours longer than expected), but I figured it was worth the risk to save the time and money of leaving town.
A trial in a virtual court cost me $300 (yes, $300 – the entire trial O_o). I just used a video chat service and connected via email with opposing counsel at no additional charge. A court reporter was also not necessary since I used voice recognition software for dictation.
2-An Immediate Solution
I recently found myself in a situation where my client needed a restraining order to protect him from harassment by his neighbors. Unfortunately, my office is located in the county where he lived AND where his neighbors did their harassing. As a result, I had to spend hours driving back and forth on my day off just to get the paperwork done since I was in his county. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many attorneys; using traditional courts can really eat up your time when you have cases that actually require your presence.
3-Saves Money (As Much As $30K)
You may think that because virtual courts cost less than traditional ones, it would also mean a lesser quality of justice and representation. This is not the case. In fact, as far as clients are concerned, there is no difference between traditional courts and virtual courts for them (and frankly this is important). The only difference is that your firm saves on costs related to travel and lodging.
For this last example, I’m going to use a case that we recently handled but it’s not uncommon. My client was arrested and had his bail set at $3000. He was also worried that if he couldn’t post bail (because he didn’t have the money) that the police would take him to jail (even though he didn’t have a permanent residence in the jurisdiction where his case was being handled) and he would lose both of his jobs (because there is no way for him to get to work after being taken into custody).
4- The Individual’s Needs
Virtual courts take into consideration the individual. While a traditional court may have to schedule an entire week for a trial, virtual court can be scheduled in predetermined time slots based on participants’ availability (i.e. if you have to work during the day, a digital court can be scheduled in the evenings).
Virtual courts are also considerate of those who have physical disabilities or illnesses that make it difficult for them to physically go to court (i.e. people with Lupus or those with MS). Virtual courts allow these individuals access to justice without being forced to rely on family members and friends just so they could keep their jobs or get an education.
Virtual courts also make it easier for those with busy schedules who don’t have a lot of time in the day to take part in court proceedings (i.e. students, parents who have to work during the day and make sure their kids are fed and cared for, etc.).
5- Quality Of Representation
Virtual courts can be used to do everything that traditional ones do without the physical aspects (i.e. you can still file documents, witness affidavits, receive subpoenas and order discovery, etc.). The one thing virtual courts cannot do is change judges or opposing counsel mid-trial (which is just a double bagging issue).
Conclusion of this article:
These five secrets to virtual court can make all the difference in your practice. I’m not saying that you should never physically go to court again and that you should never physically meet with clients, etc., but virtual courts are an excellent alternative when it comes to either saving money or minimizing the time you spend in transit. I’m sure there are other secrets out there, but these are some of the ones I’ve discovered during my time working with and managing lawyers.
