All About Unbundled Legal Services
How much do you know about “unbundled” legal services?
Do you offer unbundled services – also called limited scope legal services or discrete task representation – in your practice? Do clients ever request it?
If so, you should have the Unbundled Legal Services Practice Guide from Lawyers Mutual.
“Unbundled service is the process of taking a client’s legal matter and breaking it down into separate tasks,” the guide explains. “The attorney then provides representation to the client that is only related to one or more of those tasks, but does not provide full legal representation. The client is responsible for tasks necessary to complete his or her legal matter.”
You should also read the NC State Bar 2005 Formal Ethics Opinion 10 as it relates to Virtual Law Practices and unbundled services.
Unbundled legal services can be a win-win. But without proper risk management, it can be a lose-lose.
Unbundled Legal Services was written by Stephanie Kimbro, M.A., J.D. Download your free copy here.
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A Sampling of Unbundled Legal Services
Unbundled legal services might include the following:
- Providing basic legal advice
- Drafting pleadings, briefs, declarations or orders
- Document review
- Conducting legal research
- Negotiating
- Making limited appearances
- Coaching on strategy or role playing
- Advising on court procedures and courtroom behavior
- Preparing exhibits
- Organizing discovery materials
- Drafting contracts and agreements
- Ghostwriting
- Providing direction to resources such as local and state rules
Benefits to Client
1. Greater access to justice for the general public, especially pro se litigants and lower to moderate income members.
2. Guidance provided by limited scope representation to those who otherwise may try to represent themselves entirely.
3. Reduced cost. Services are often provided for a fixed fee rather than the standard billable hour which may be easier for clients to budget.
Benefits to Attorney
1. New source of revenue.
2. Many of procedures and tasks can be streamlined into firm’s workflow.
3. Decrease the administrative burden on our court systems who are overwhelmed with increasing numbers of pro se individuals.
A Risk Management Note
“The first step to unbundling legal services is to make the determination of whether the current legal services provided by the firm are appropriate for unbundling. Any limitations on the scope of representation must be reasonable, and the firm’s clients may not be able to follow the guidance necessary to complete their legal needs. Therefore, unbundling may not be appropriate for a particular client or practice area.”
The practice guide contains a list of questions to determine if unbundled services is right for your firm.
SOURCE: unbundledlegalservices_e.indd (nmcdn.io)
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