Virtual Personal and Criminal Consultations

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The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the world, making social distancing, lockdowns, and remote working conditions the new normal. These unprecedented times have also encouraged us to look at new and better ways of doing business. We understand many people cannot leave their homes or feel uncomfortable doing so during this time, but their legal needs do not stop. That’s why we’ve introduced new virtual consultations, which help us safely deliver our legal services to new and existing clients in northwest Indiana and Chicago. Read on to learn more about our new contactless virtual consultations.

How Our Virtual Consultations Work

Virtual consultations are a modern alternative to traditional legal consultations. Our virtual consultations use video conferencing technology to put you face-to-face with your lawyer, even though you’re in two separate locations. You can connect via a home computer with a webcam or a mobile device. Once connected, you will speak to one another as if you were in the same room. Just like traditional meetings with us, you can use a virtual consultation to see whether you have a viable case or discuss an existing case.

If you’re a new client, we’ll run a conflicts check before your first virtual consultation, just as we would before a face-to-face appointment. We’ll also clarify whether the meeting is exploratory or we’ll provide legal advice so everyone is on the same page. We’ll also make any charges and the scope of our services clear before we start talking. Remember though that when you choose Alvarez Law Office, consultations are free. There are also no fees unless we win your case. We send all new clients an engagement or non-engagement letter that explains the relationship in writing after their initial consultation.

Don’t worry if you’ve never used video conferencing technology before or do not feel confident with computers. Having a virtual consultation couldn’t be simpler. Our lawyers can talk you through the process, with a phone call if required, to make sure you can take full advantage of our virtual service.

The Benefits of Virtual Consultations

Virtual consultations are a different way of doing business, but we believe they have many advantages for our clients right now. Once you understand the benefits, we’re sure you’ll embrace virtual consultations as we have.

Perhaps the greatest benefit during the pandemic is the safety of virtual consultations. Since you and our lawyers do not meet face to face, there is zero risk of COVID-19 transmission between you. The health of our clients and team are of our utmost concern, and we feel confident virtual consultations are the best way to keep everyone safe.

You can also have your appointment anywhere you have internet access. Meet with our lawyers while you’re in your home, your workplace, or somewhere else you access the internet such as a library or community center. You could even have your virtual appointment while you’re on the move using your mobile device. This flexibility is a real benefit, whether you lead a busy lifestyle or you’re limiting your movements during the pandemic.

Many people feel more comfortable during virtual consultations than traditional ones. If your case makes you feel anxious, having a virtual consultation at home, perhaps with a pet by your side, can help you feel more comfortable. Sometimes talking to a screen can also feel less confronting than sitting down with a real person.

Offering virtual consultations also opens our services up to clients who can’t usually visit us. Whether you live far from our offices, you don’t have handy transport, or your work schedule makes in-person appointments difficult, virtual consultations can make our services more accessible to you. Of course, a virtual consultation also lets clients with a COVID-19 diagnosis or those awaiting test results receive ongoing legal help while they’re isolating.

Virtual conferences also save you time. Forget about sitting in traffic or waiting around for public transport. You can simply log on and start chatting to your lawyer, then log off at the end of your session and go about your day. Our virtual consultations make life so easy we’re sure you’ll embrace them.

Confidentiality Comes First at Alvarez Law Office

We have always taken the confidentiality of our client’s cases seriously. That doesn’t change with the introduction of our virtual consultations. We use password-protected video conferencing to ensure unauthorized parties cannot view our meetings. We recommend taking your virtual consultation in a private location, such as your own home or office, just as we do. Then you can feel confident no one is listening in on your discussion.

We’ll also protect the information you share with us virtually, including any submitted documents. Our email accounts are all password protected and we take great care with any printed hard copies. We keep, transfer, protect, and dispose of any case-related documents in line with data protection laws.

Make the Most of Your Virtual Consultation

Use a high-speed internet connection for the best virtual consultation experience. A high-speed connection results in crisp, clear audio and high-definition video. A fast connection helps your virtual consultation flow naturally, without lagging or buffering.

Choosing a quiet place will also improve your virtual consultation experience. Background noise can make it difficult for us to hear you and you to hear our lawyers.

Make sure your space is also well-lit. This will help us see you better. Being able to see your body language is one of the advantages of virtual consultations compared to phone consultations. You may like to open curtains or turn on the lights before your consultation. If your home internet signal is strong enough or you’re connected to Wi-Fi, you could even step outside. Consider testing the camera to see how you’ll appear before your virtual consultation starts.

The safety of our clients and legal team is at the front of our minds during the global pandemic. If you need legal help during this time, we would love you to try our contactless virtual consultations. Call us at (219) 237-4661 or complete our online contact form to book your virtual consultation.