Practice Management

They are coming.  It is only a matter of time.

The Houston Business Journal recently published an article on MDWebLive.  It is a rich content website as to  conditions and symptoms.  But, it allows you to visit with your medical doctor over the web live, to ask questions and to get a consultation.  The doctor can then order lab tests, set up plans to help, order drugs.   Live, online consultations.  All that is required is a broadband connection and a cheap web cam.

But, that is medicine?

I know. However, we have to face facts.  This technology is just as well suited for the practice of law.  It already happens on a limited basis with courts sitting in a distant location, and in large complicated litigation needs to be brought together.  Where you had better believe it is coming is to the consumer.  Deep content websites (can you say blogs), where a client sign up, and the initial consult is performed online (hopefully from the comfort of your home office).

WDWeblive even provides a free web cam to its members to facilitate the process.  They have arranged for lab tests to be performed at over 2000 locations so you do not have to drive into the main clinic and wait if this is necessary.

For example, just thinking out loud, could not a law firm or group not arrange for documents to be delivered to any Kinkos or UPS Store for canning and emailing to the firm if the client did not have that capability.  Could not the law firm not provide free web cams to the few who needs them.  After all it might costs a few bucks, but it is cheaper than maintaining offices, staff, and the commute.

In law it is really a matter of the consumer being able to either read up, or watch videos, on a content rich site (Blog, videos, twitter, wiki).  Schedule an appointment.  Answer a set of key questions online.  Visit with a lawyer over the web to discuss how the content applies to this particular case.  Then, pay using credit cards, debit cards or PayPal.  Documents are prepared and sent back in various formats to the client via email or an online account, and uploaded to the Court if necessary.