<p>It's true, more or less. Much of the practice of law as we know it today requires face time. Practicing law in the US requires a great deal of language profiency, and an intimate familiarity with the cultural context in which it is being practiced.</p>
<p>That said, modern communication has changed things remarkably. I worked for 14 months in a job that was previously performed by a performed by a person living in Taiwan; my replacement (my choice) also lives in Taiwan. I traveled to Asia frequently in that position, and worked Sunday through Thursday nights. </p>
<p>Remote competition for many legal jobs is more likely to come from elsewhere in the US than it is to come from overseas. That trend is attenuated somewhat by state bar membership rules. Those rules are loosening a bit; the reality is that anyone who represents large corporations by necessity has a somewhat multi-jurisdictional practice.</p>