Imagine that it is 2035. The lines between the actual world and the virtual Metaverse have blurred. Americans – including Washingtonians – are spending more and more time in the virtual world, playing games, visiting with friends, exploring. In such scenarios, can your avatar be injured? Can this injury be the legal responsibility of another person (or company)? Is there any law that applies? Is there a civil justice system in the Metaverse? Taking it a bit further, will you need a medical malpractice lawyer in the Metaverse?

The attorneys at CMG Law have no idea. But of course, there is already a personal injury firm that has set up shop virtually:

https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/why-a-personal-injury-firm-has-set-up-shop-in-the-metaverse

It appears now the firm intends to use their “satellite office” to steer folks to brick and mortar establishments in the “real” world.

Richard Grungo, Jr, one of the partners at the firm, sees this as an opportunity to start experimenting, and by getting in early, they can learn and adapt to what works. A metaverse itself is a digital universe created with elements of virtual reality, augmented reality, and video. People live in these worlds as an avatar.

One of the benefits of communicating with clients as avatars, is some who have had very difficult traumatic experiences in the past find it easier to communicate with folks like lawyers as avatars.

For Mr. Grungo’s law firm in particular, a user’s avatar can simply walk up to the firm’s virtual office, enter the virtual building, and start interacting with an avatar from the law firm. There is also an option for the user to call the phone number made available at the front desk.

Who knows what the future holds…it was not long ago many of us were scoffing at the idea of “virtual bookstore”.