This summer, I returned from a year practicing law in Patagonia without touching a single piece of work-related paper. How my wife, three young children, and I ended up in that remote paradise is a story for another day.
Today’s story is about how I ran my law practice seamlessly from the other end of the world—thanks to technology, some creative problem-solving, and a bit of foresight.
Like many, the seeds for my adventure were planted during the pandemic. Moving my practice out of my office made me wonder: if I could work from home, why not work from anywhere?
A year of planning later, we had our flights booked. I spent that time preparing my solo practice for the transition and, just as importantly, making sure my clients were comfortable with the idea of me working from 5,000 miles away.
Navigating Legal Hurdles
Before I could focus on going paperless, I had to ensure I could legally work remotely as an attorney. I consulted with colleagues, the North Carolina State Bar, and a licensing attorney Josh Walthall, to make sure I stayed on the right side of both U.S. and Argentinian law.
Transparency with clients and close supervision of my remote staff were key, and I made sure to avoid any unauthorized-practice-of-law issues abroad.
Tools of the Trade
I was already used to working remotely with my paralegal, using MyCase.com to manage documents. But going fully digital took some creativity.
For estate planning, one of the biggest challenges was how clients would sign their documents. Enter TheBestNotary, a California-based service that handles the whole process—printing, binding, and notarizing estate plans—by sending a notary and witnesses directly to clients’ homes.
This service made it possible for me to offer the same seamless experience from Patagonia as I did from my office in North Carolina.
On the estate administration side, North Carolina’s move toward eCourts was a game changer. Most of the courthouses where I practice went digital while I was away, allowing me to file documents electronically without needing to touch a single sheet of paper.
My paralegal handled the rare paper filing (including wills offered for probate) , and I owe my gratitude to her for dealing with the bits of paper I was able to avoid.
Paperless Banking and Billing
Banking and payments were a breeze.
Most of my clients were already accustomed to paying via credit card through LawPay, and nobody batted an eye when I transitioned fully to online payments. For trust account reviews and reconciliations, I double-checked the North Carolina State Bar’s rules to ensure we could handle it all electronically—and we could.
I also took the plunge with a virtual mailbox. All my mail now routes through TravelingMailbox.com, where it’s scanned and sent to me digitally. Anything physical that I absolutely needed was forwarded; the rest was shredded.
The Results
Looking back, I can’t believe how smoothly it went. I never found out if my town in Patagonia had a FedEx or DHL office because I never needed it.
The only work-related paper I touched all year were the postcards I sent to clients and colleagues. Now that I’m back in North Carolina, I’ve returned to some of the old office habits, like standing in front of a printer.
But the lessons I learned—about the future of remote work, the power of going paperless, and the flexibility technology offers—will stick with me for good.
We appreciate Jeffrey Austin writing this article and making it available. You can find him on LinkedIn at this link.
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