What is a Virtual Office?

Virtual office rentals provide solo attorneys and small law firms a low cost alternative to a traditional brick-and-mortar office arrangement. 

What is a virtual office?

A virtual office rental arrangement is a financial arrangement where attorneys pay a low monthly fee (typically starting at under $100 month in urban areas such as New York City, Boston, and Washington D.C.) to rent the use of a premium commercial address in an executive office suite and the non-exclusive use of office space and amenities.

Virtual office are frequently used by solo attorneys and small law firms who, for lifestyle or budgetary reasons, prefer to produce legal work-product from one place (out of town or from a home office) but want a premium commercial office address and a professional office suite to conduct face-to-face business.

Why do solo attorneys and small firms choose a virtual office? 

Instead of the big, up-front monthly expense associated with a traditional office lease, attorneys can rent office space and conference rooms by the hour or day on an as-needed basis. Guest reception and mail services may be provided as part of the monthly subscription fee and other office services, like phone answering and copy services, can be purchased on a monthly or per-use basis.

Essentially, a virtual office rental arrangement is the same as any traditional office rental in shared law office space, except with unbundled fees.  A virtual office  is the “bricks & mortar storefront” for attorneys who prefer to produce legal work product somewhere other than a traditional office. In most states, a virtual office rental will be ethically permissible to use as a bona fide office.

When renting a virtual office from a provider who offers reception services as part of the package, your clients can go to the suite to drop off packages, and the law firm can receive service of process, mail and hand deliveries, whether the attorney is physically present in the office or not.

What types of attorneys is a virtual office most suitable for? 

A virtual office rental is a viable option for any attorney looking to keep monthly overhead costs to a minimum. In our experience, Law Firm Suites has found three types of attorneys who choose to practice with a virtual office rental:

1. Home-Based Attorneys

A virtual office rental is particularly suited for solo attorneys and small firms working primarily from a home office. It provides these attorneys access to the amenities necessary to practice effectively, such as reception services, a premium commercial mailing address and access to well-appointed conference rooms on a per-use basis.

2. Attorneys Starting New Practices

Virtual office rentals are an affordable office space option for attorneys who are starting new practices. The low monthly price coupled with shorter contract term lengths than found with traditional office space rental help decrease the risk associated with starting a law firm. Virtual offices that are exclusive to lawyers, such as the one at Law Firm Suites, also provide a community for attorneys to gain access to referrals and practice area resources.

3. Out of State Law Practices Seeking a Local Presence

Frequently, law firms with a main office in an adjoining state will choose a virtual office in a major urban area, like New York City, as an inexpensive alternative to maintaining a physical office in desired location. Often, their main office has adequate staff in their home office to handle any business they have, but choose a virtual office to access new legal markets and leverage the prestige a premium commercial office address in an urban center provides.