In 2020 and 2021, the legal industry — along with all other sectors — underwent a massive, unprecedented shift to digital technologies. For many legal professionals, this digital transformation has led to improvements in operations and service delivery, as well as better relationships with clients and partners.
If you are a lawyer or manage a law firm in Tampa, Orlando, or St. Petersburg, you would do well to adopt legal technologies to drive growth and gain an edge over your competitors. Here are four tech solutions you should consider.
Cloud technologies
The past few years have seen many lawyers and law firms move to the cloud, and many more are expected to make the switch in the years to come. This is because of the significant improvements in efficiency and the higher cost savings that the cloud affords. With cloud-based law practice management software, in particular, law firms can easily manage workflows, cases, contacts, documents, time tracking, and billing from a single dashboard. This eliminates the need for multiple apps to manage various processes involved in running a law firm.
Moreover, for law firms looking to adopt a hybrid work setup, which allows employees to split their time between in-office and remote work, moving to the cloud is a must. Deploying a cloud-based infrastructure will enable lawyers and staff to stay productive and serve clients wherever they may be working. By using cloud solutions in the legal industry, they can hold virtual meetings, collaborate with colleagues, securely store and access data, and even reduce reliance on paper-based documents.
Related reading: 3 Challenges of hybrid work and how to deal with them
Workflow automation
Law practice management software can also be used to automate workflows. Such software can be programmed to generate documents, create and send out invoices, delegate tasks to personnel who have the availability and the required expertise, and keep clients updated on the progress of their cases. Automating tedious, time-consuming tasks like these will give lawyers more time to focus on high-value activities as well as increase billable hours.
Mobile solutions
Mobile technologies have changed the legal industry in a myriad of ways. They have helped law firms to be more efficient while also providing a new way for lawyers to work remotely. With mobile solutions, lawyers can work on cases even while they are on the go and they’re also more accessible to clients and colleagues. Also, there are mobile apps that allow legal professionals to provide clients with a broad range of services, including document review and signing, contract drafting, transactional support, and more, all from a smartphone or tablet. Some of the apps that law firms should look into include:
-
- Fastcase – a legal database of cases and statutes from all 50 states and the federal government
- Depose – allows lawyers to take depositions, capture signatures, and attach exhibits to depositions using a mobile device
- Dictate+Connect – enables lawyers to record dictations (e.g., testimonies and interrogatories) and share them with colleagues as needed
Using these and similar mobile apps makes collaborating on casework more efficient and convenient for everyone involved.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
It’s unlikely that lawyers will ever be replaced by AI, but those looking to streamline workflows and better serve clients will have to implement AI solutions in their practices. AI can assist lawyers by helping them discover new cases and opportunities as well as analyze documents, contracts, and other materials. There are also AI-powered chatbots that law firms can deploy to answer clients’ simple legal questions and help clients navigate the legal process.
For more information about legal technology solutions and how they can benefit your Florida law firm, turn to Cutting Edge Network Technologies. We’ll ensure that you invest in the right IT tools for your firm’s complex needs and requirements. What’s more, we’ll keep your IT infrastructure working at peak performance so you can focus on winning cases and building strong client relationships. Drop us a line today to learn what we can do to help your firm grow.
Leave a comment!