MarIA: SPD Advocacia's first virtual team member

Updated on November 14, 2026.

SPD Advocacia has a new member on its team. MarIA is an AI-powered virtual assistant and becomes the firm's first virtual team member. She works in virtually every stage of the firm's routine: from the first contact on WhatsApp and by email, 24 hours a day, to case lookups and document downloads, under the lawyers' supervision.

In this article, we explain what MarIA does, how she works with the team and what changes for current clients and for anyone who wants to contact the firm, in Brazil or abroad.

Who is MarIA

MarIA was created by Sidnei Pedro Dias, the founding attorney of SPD, who also chose her name. MAR is Portuguese for sea, a reference to the infinite, and IA stands for artificial intelligence (inteligência artificial). The sea is also in the firm's colors: SPD's palette is petroleum blue, the same shade used on the website, in documents and in the background of the team photos.

MarIA is an artificial intelligence system configured with SPD's internal procedures, templates and guidelines and integrated with the firm's working tools: WhatsApp, email, the Client Portal, each case folder and the request tracking system. She performs client service, intake, case monitoring and administrative tasks, and every step is logged in the request history.

The image that represents her on the website was created to identify her in conversations. Anyone who talks to MarIA is talking to a virtual assistant who works under the supervision of the firm's lawyers.

What MarIA does every day

24-hour WhatsApp support on +55 62 98184-3257 and +55 61 99833-1103, including nights, weekends and holidays, in plain and friendly language
Email support, answering the messages that reach the firm
A reference number for every new request, sent instantly on WhatsApp
Document intake via WhatsApp, with files going straight to the case folder
Case lookups in every court where the firm has cases, with updates to the client
Administrative filings, such as requests to Brazil's Social Security Institute (INSS), prepared and followed as instructed by the lawyer
Download of full case files or of specific documents, such as decisions and court notices, stored in the case folder
Property registry certificates requested through the ONR, Brazil's National Operator of the Electronic Real Estate Registry
Client notices, such as missing documents, stage changes and team replies
Client Portal access, with the login code sent on WhatsApp.

Behind the scenes at the firm

Beyond client service, MarIA takes part in SPD's internal routine, always with the lawyers' review whenever legal content is involved:

reading court notices and tracking the deadlines of each case
organizing each digital case folder and checking the documents received
updating amounts and preparing calculation reports
researching legislation and case law in official sources
progress reports for clients and for the team
supporting the finance team with billing, receipts and invoices.

How she works with the lawyers

MarIA takes over the operational side of client service, which frees the lawyers for the work that depends on legal analysis. Case strategy, legal opinions and court documents remain with the lawyers, who review every document before it is filed. When a matter needs legal assessment, MarIA records the request and forwards it to the lawyer in charge of that practice area.

In the daily routine, she manages the request queue, tracks the internal deadline of each task, flags pending items to the team and informs the client of every relevant development.

What changes for clients

answers at any time, without waiting for office hours
a reference number from the very first message, to follow the request
documents sent on WhatsApp stored directly in the case folder
case updates without having to call the office
the same follow-up by the lawyers, only faster.

Clients who prefer to speak directly with a lawyer can ask on WhatsApp. Consultations can be held in person in Anápolis, Goiás, or online for clients anywhere in Brazil or abroad.

Confidentiality and data protection

MarIA follows the same professional confidentiality rules that apply to the whole team. Client information is handled in line with Brazil's General Data Protection Law (LGPD, Law 13,709/2018) and with the recommendations approved by the Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) in November 2024 on the use of generative artificial intelligence in legal practice, which cover confidentiality, ethical practice and disclosure of the use of these tools.

Why our first virtual team member

Since the pandemic, SPD has worked as a digital law firm, with electronic signatures and online service for clients in every Brazilian state and abroad. In 2026, the year the firm turns ten, MarIA's arrival is the next step: bringing artificial intelligence into client service, under the lawyers' supervision. She is the team's first virtual member.

Frequently asked questions

Is MarIA a person?

No. MarIA is an AI-powered virtual assistant. She is part of the SPD team alongside the lawyers and the firm's other staff.

Does MarIA give legal advice?

She answers questions about the request, the progress of the case and the documents needed. The legal analysis of the case and advice on what to do remain with the lawyers.

Can I talk to a lawyer?

Yes. Just ask on WhatsApp. MarIA forwards the request to the lawyer in charge or books a consultation.

How is my data handled?

Information is handled under professional confidentiality and in line with Brazil's General Data Protection Law, as everywhere in the firm.

Does she answer at night and on weekends?

Yes. WhatsApp support runs 24 hours a day, every day.

Want to meet MarIA? Send a message on WhatsApp +55 62 98184-3257 and +55 61 99833-1103. She answers 24 hours a day. To meet the whole team, visit About us.

Official sources

By Sidnei Pedro Dias, attorney, OAB/GO 48.603, OAB/DF 68.207 and OAB/SP 501.693.

Meet MarIA, our first virtual team member