Name: No Office, No Problem: How a New Jersey Attorney Built an Ethical Remote Law Practice
Uploaded: 2026-03-10T11:00:00-07:00
Description: This CLE provides practical guidance on building and maintaining an ethical remote law practice while remaining fully compliant with applicable rules of court and rules of professional conduct in New Jersey. The program addresses supervision, competence, banking, and client communication in a remote environment, with focused discussion on technology selection and staffing models.

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No Office, No Problem: How a New Jersey Attorney Built an Ethical Remote Law Practice

This CLE provides practical guidance on building and maintaining an ethical remote law practice while remaining fully compliant with applicable rules of court and rules of professional conduct in New Jersey. The program addresses supervision, competence, banking, and client communication in a remote environment, with focused discussion on technology selection and staffing models.

Topics covered include:

Law Firm Management Law Practice Legal Ethics

Agenda:

Introduction – My Story

Introduction to me and how I went from running a traditional brick and mortal law practice based in New Jersey to a remote practice based in New Jersey and finally, to a remote New Jersey law practice based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Ethical Considerations under the NJ Rules of Professional Conduct

Overview of the applicable New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct as well as New Jersey Court Rules that are necessary to comply with to maintain an ethical remote law practice
New Jersey Court Rule 1:21-1
NJ RPC 1.4 – Communication
NJ RPC 1.5 – Fees
NJ RPC – 5.1 – Responsibilities of Partners, Supervisory Lawyers, and Law Firms
NJ Court Rule 1:21-6

Recommended Technology/My Tech Stack

How to create a tech stack that promotes efficient handling of a remote law practice
What’s in my tech stack

Practical Tips on Being Fully Remote

What are the things you need to spend special time considering when building your remote practice, such as staffing, physical space, mail, technology and how you plan to handle occasional in person court appearances when you live in another location

Is Remote Work Here to Stay – Predictions

Relevant court orders for New Jersey practice
My prediction on whether we can expect things to stay this way six years after the beginning of the pandemic.

Q&A (As Time Permits)

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

Originally broadcast: March 10, 2026 11:00 AM PT

Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

00:00 Introduction

Lauren Scardella, the speaker, plans to discuss her journey in building a remote law practice, ethical considerations, recommended technology, and practical tips for remote work. She emphasizes her passion for remote practice, having successfully operated remotely in both New Jersey and Arizona.

05:05 Building a Remote Law Practice

Lauren recounts her journey from working in a traditional office to establishing a fully remote law practice. She initially operated from a physical office but transitioned to remote work after realizing the benefits of working from home. Lauren describes the logistical changes she made, such as hiring a virtual assistant and maintaining a physical address for mail and client meetings. She highlights the impact of COVID-19 on her practice, which accelerated the shift to remote operations and virtual court appearances.

12:36 Ethical Considerations for Remote Practice

Lauren discusses the ethical considerations for operating a remote law practice in New Jersey. She explains the importance of adhering to court rules and the Rules of Professional Conduct, especially regarding communication and accessibility. Lauren shares her experience with a financial audit and the need for a designated location for receiving mail and service of process. She highlights the importance of understanding state-specific rules and ensuring compliance to avoid legal issues. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining clear communication with clients, especially in a remote practice. Lauren discusses the importance of keeping clients informed and managing their expectations regarding response times. She explains her approach to fee management, emphasizing the need for reasonable fees and the use of flat fees in her practice.

33:04 Technology and Tools for Remote Practice

Lauren outlines her technology stack, which includes tools like Clio for practice management and Dropbox for document storage. She discusses the benefits of using Clio Draft and Justice Text for efficiency in drafting and video analysis. Lauren emphasizes the importance of having reliable technology to support remote work and improve productivity. She shares her experience with payment processing and the decision to absorb processing fees as a business cost.

46:21 Practical Tips for Remote Work

Lauren provides practical tips for remote work, including considerations for staffing and equipment provision. She discusses the benefits of daily check-in meetings with staff to streamline communication and task management. Lauren emphasizes the importance of having a comfortable workspace to enhance productivity. She highlights the importance of maintaining confidentiality and having reliable mail handling services. Lauren advises on the need for a network of reliable attorneys for in-person court appearances when practicing remotely.

57:32 Future of Remote Work in Law

Lauren discusses the future of remote work in law, predicting its continued presence due to the flexibility it offers. She highlights the New Jersey Supreme Court's framework for remote court operations and the varying adherence by different courts.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Speaker

Lauren Scardella Attorney

Lauren Scardella is a graduate of American University in Washington, DC, and Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey. She has practiced exclusively in municipal court and criminal defense since 2009, with a particular focus on Driving While Intoxicated, traffic offenses, and criminal matters in New Jersey Municipal Courts. Read More ›

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 General

Earn Credit Until: March 9, 2027

This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.200 hours of total CLE credit.

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