Technology, including video conferencing, artificial intelligence and document retention tools, has become vitally important to the Nancy L. Thompson Law Office bankruptcy practice. When the covid pandemic started in 2020 we had to find ways to continue serving clients and filing bankruptcy cases. Court and trustee hearings stopped being held in person and in-person client meetings were problematic because of health risks to staff and clients. Remote work with technology tools became the norm rather than the exception. Now, four years later, much of the technology we adopted in 2020 is just as useful today as then. It makes our bankruptcy practice more efficient and flexible while still offering highly professional representation. Here’s how these technologies are used in the Nancy L. Thompson Law Office bankruptcy practice:
- Remote Consultations and Meetings:
- Video Conferencing: I use Zoom video conferencing tools for all client consultations and meetings. Before the pandemic every client had to drive to Des Moines to meet with me at least once prior to filing and then again to attend their hearing with the bankruptcy trustee. It forced clients to take several hours off from work, deal with Iowa winter weather hazards, and it was difficult to represent debtors living long distances from Des Moines. Rather than returning to in-person meetings once the pandemic ended, I decided the advantages of video conferencing outweigh any limitations. Zoom video conferencing is available to anyone with a smart phone even if they don’t have a computer and webcam. It reduces the amount of time everyone must devote to meetings and artificial intelligence tools linked to the video conference provides summaries of the meetings that can be referenced later. Video conferencing is especially useful when clients are located in different geographical areas or during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Virtual Trustee Hearings:
- Video and Call Conferencing: Starting in 2020 all hearings with bankruptcy trustees were done by conference calls. This saved debtors and attorneys time and prevented the necessity of driving to Des Moines in bad weather. Those trustee hearings continue to be held by conference call but will soon move to video conferencing through Zoom. Clients of the Nancy L. Thompson Law Office should already be familiar with how it works because all my client meetings are done in that format.
- Artificial Intelligence Content Creation:
- Communication Tools: We use artificial intelligence to create videos that explain difficult concepts and client responsibilities. Our Chapter 13 bankruptcy clients received such a video earlier this year that explained their responsibilities regarding tax returns and refunds.
- Electronic Case Filing:
- Court E-Filing Systems: The bankruptcy court has long offered electronic filing systems, allowing me to submit documents, pleadings, and motions online. This reduces paperwork, streamlines the filing process, and improves overall efficiency.
- Client Portals:
- Secure Client Portals: While we don’t offer it yet we’re exploring the creation of secure online portals to share confidential documents and information with clients. Even now we use a document management program to organize, store and retrieve documents among staff.
By integrating these technologies into our practice, we can enhance communication, collaboration, efficiency and overall productivity while providing more flexible, convenient and professional services to our clients.
