Now I had an explore of Second Life about a year ago and found it to be the most bizarre place; full of strange animal, human and 'monster'-like avatars all flying, walking and driving around a staggeringly huge universe. Unfortunately, I found only one common theme on my travels around this world: sex. Whether offered, sold, sought or demanded, it appeared to permeate through the vast majority of SL conversations. Perhaps I was visiting the wrong places, or at least the most salubrious.
Nowadays however, Reuters has an SL correspondent, multinationals have offices or shop fronts and many people have made fortunes creating what are essentially bits of software for the less tech-savvy SL residents. It was only a matter of time before law firms joined in (although I am surprised there were not more banks arriving first, ABN Amro seems to be one of the few); SL currently boasts c. 5m inhabitants (although the true number is hotly contested) and a self-sustaining economy worth c. £1bn.
Field Fisher Waterhouse is the first firm to open a virtual office in SL, the Times reports in an interview with David Naylor (IP Partner):
In addition to attracting new clients and winning publicity for the firm, Mr Naylor believes his new office can be used to help existing clients and staff by hosting virtual seminars, conferences and training days. It will also be a useful recruitment tool in the increasingly competitive market for young legal talent. Prospective employees could “visit” the firm in Second Life and find out more about it instead instead of visiting a careers fair or reading a website…
The aim appears to be mainly one of marketing; to potential recruits, students and clients who FFW hope will be impressed by the firms knowledge of operating a business in the brave new virtual world.
It all sounds very exciting but I suspect this will currently be the reserve of smaller, more technologically orientated firms such as Freeth Cartwright and FFW. More interestingly, there has been no debate or decision on which legal jurisdiction applies. I’d love to see a a lawyer explaining in court what Second Life actually IS, and why the setting up of a (virtual) brothel in the basement of a (virtual) law firm should not be permitted…although this was almost the case in First Life!
According to me a virtual office space does not necessarily mean that it is physically non-existent. In fact, it is a space in a particular building or location that is leased for a reasonable amount and has the same features as a regular office.
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