Innovation and technology have constantly transformed the traditional norms, customs, and ways of life throughout all areas of society. Innovations are generally perceived from two different perspectives: sustaining or disruptive. Sustaining innovations are known to make already existing products in the market better while not altering the structure of the market itself. Disruptive innovations are different because they DO change the marketplace and the transformation could not be anticipated or predicted. Especially during the last year when the world was shaken by the pandemic, the changes and transformations forced upon society have been tremendous and they have completely shifted the workforce landscape all around us. Even the legal profession has been forced to adapt to the world of remote access and services.
It is no surprise that in the last several years, legal experts have predicted that technology and its constant advancements will end up disrupting the traditional model of legal services. We have already witnessed the evolution of the internet and its search capabilities which have become more and more intelligent over time to provide quite accurate solutions to even the most complex questions. The wealth of information is right at our fingertips and people today are more tech-savvy and sophisticated than ever! Our society is more inclined to search for our own answers online and has increased confidence in utilizing online services overall. We are seeing the effects of disruptive innovation and technology all around us and it continues to evolve every day.
Disruptive innovations have been causing huge transformations in the legal professions and in various different areas of law such as immigration. These disruptions have come in the form of online legal services. Despite the way it sounds, disruption is not a negative thing, but rather, it is exactly what is necessary to make progress in the overall provision of immigration legal services. The increased use of online software platforms and expert systems reduces the traditional cost of delivering legal services. People are waiting for legal services to become more accessible and less costly. They are actively seeking out the convenience of online access to immigration legal services and document preparation tools. Thus, we exhibit a significant increase in the number of innovative alternatives to deliver immigration legal services that are more efficient and effective. They are more easily accessible, available, and affordable for the general public as well.
With transforming times and the infinitely advancing power of technology, the current trend seems to confirm that online services can provide convenience, efficiency, and especially the transparency that people desire during times of uncertainty. Online immigration tools and resources are proving to offer greater information for much more reasonable prices these days and they are empowering sophisticated individuals to have the confidence in themselves to take the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach for some or all parts of their legal needs. It is truly remarkable how much people can accomplish on their own these days thanks to disruptive practices and increased resources available online for immigration law.
For those who desire peace of mind or legal advice from an Immigration Attorney, such guidance is even more readily accessible and affordable these days as well. For too long, attorneys have been limited in their ability to innovate and be creative with their practices due to heavy regulations and unreasonable constraints. However, thanks to shifting times and disruptive innovations, alternative options are now available for flexible lawyer assistance. Attorneys are encouraged to deliver legal services at lower costs by unbundling their services. Unbundling allows clients to pay only for the services that they require or want rather than receive and pay for full-service attorney representation if it is not necessary. Unbundling of services is also referred to as limited scope representation and it limits the attorney’s obligations to the specified and agreed upon services only. This way the scope of work handled by the attorney is limited which also means that the price is significantly lower to cover just the work completed.
The practice of unbundling services has been encouraged for years by the American Bar Association (ABA) with the intended purpose of increasing the public’s access to legal services. ABA Model Rule 1.2(c) allows lawyers to limit the scope of representation so long as the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the client gives informed consent. Limiting the scope of representation by an attorney allows the legal services to be much more accessible and affordable. Now people can receive the assistance they need for certain aspects of their cases if they require professional guidance or support. And thanks to disruptive advancements and all the online legal resources and services now available to the immigrant community, people should feel empowered and confident enough to take the DIY approach on other aspects of their immigration cases and strive toward achieving their immigration goals. Virtual and online legal services are the way to go and it is the future of immigration.
POSTED BY: DreamVista Advocates, P.C.
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