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You return from a frustrating day in court and enter your office in a weary stagger. As you retrieve all the messages you received while you were out, you realize most messages are from existing clients asking the usual questions about the status of their case. Out of frustration and still trying to get over the judge's ruling earlier in the day, you admit that you are just not in the mood to return phone calls that seem elementary in nature. You have explained to your clients repeatedly you will contact them when progress has been made on their respective case, yet they still call. An answer to your possible frustration … law firm websites extranets.
How do law firm websites extranets differ from law websites?
Law firm websites extranets are private networked areas restricted to members of a particular group, more particularly your clients, whereas law websites are all available for the world to view.
Law websites alone are great for marketing and information purposes, however, best law firm websites extranets take the client experience a step further; they give the client exclusive access to important resources such as a document repository, litigation updates, and a host of legal research tools. Many law websites have a link or field that leads clients to law firm websites extranets. Access to websites for law firm extranets is granted to clients when they log on using an authorized username and password. Through law firm websites extranets, clients receive relevant information and updates about their case. Used correctly, websites for law firm extranets can save clients both time and money.
Law firm websites extranets are used in a wide array of forms; from complex litigation cases to straightforward immigration matters. Having extranets as part of their law websites allows law firms to expedite document distribution. Hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, can be saved on courier services alone. Just to illustrate, an immigration attorney living in California may have a client living in London, and rather than having to mail the documents for a few signatures, the client would log on via the extranet and print the forms, sign them and mail them to the attorney. This process alone saves time and money and would not have been possible through plain-vanilla law firm websites alone. Considering the practice of law is becoming more globalized just as the world economy shifts, law firm websites extranets help alleviate the distance between law firm and client.
However, website for law firm extranets do raise several concerns. First and foremost … security. Best law firm websites in general have always been concerned with security, but when sensitive and confidential information is involved, fear of security breach is further heightened. Hacking is another reason law firms cite for not deploying an extranet for their law firm websites. They feel a breach of the confidential information outweighs the benefits that come with an extranet.
In conclusion, websites for law firm extranets help facilitate communication between attorney and client, thus reducing the volume of frustrating phone calls and emails. As long as law firms understand technology will always have a ‘security' concern, and fortify their law websites against every possible security breach, law firm websites extranets will continue to add value to attorney-client relationships. Implemented correctly, website for law firm extranets offer an accurate crystal ball as to how law firms will utilize their law websites in the future.
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