Innovation has become imperative for all business verticals today, and law firms are not an exception. Even as mixing legal services and technology sounds strange, it is happening across firms of all sizes and scales. If you operate your law firm without the right tech in place, there are good chances of lagging behind the competitors. It makes sense to stay in the race by embracing innovation sooner rather than later because the legal market is more competitive than ever.
Legal tech can simplify many things for firms, from reducing the paperwork to streamlining client communication, optimizing daily operations, and enhancing the quality of client services. It can boost your reputation and even help you improve your track record in the long run. But before you attain these benefits, you need to understand the possibilities and options. After all, innovation costs money, and you will expect to invest only in the right places. Let us highlight some ways your law firm can use technology to deliver innovation in services.
Streamline communication
Robust communication is the mainstay of excellence for legal firms. It becomes even more crucial in pandemic times when face-to-face interactions with clients are reduced to the minimum. You must have the right set of remote communication apps and collaboration tools in place to stay connected with clients and each other. It boosts team productivity and fosters trust, even if you cannot meet employees and clients physically. You will probably have the basics such as instant messaging, email, voicemail, and IVR in place. At the same time, you need video conferencing apps and cloud-based solutions to match the current challenges.
Automate document management
Typically, law firms have a lot of paperwork to handle every day. A massive load of documents is bound to pile up as you take more cases over time. At some point, it will be impossible to manage them manually. Thankfully, you can switch to digital technologies to automate document management. The best piece of advice is to do it sooner rather than later because the transition will be more challenging when things get out of hand. A document management system enables you to generate documents with a single click. From retainers to welcome letters, settlement statements, deposition notices, service lists, pre-trial disclosures, and medical chronologies, everything can be properly segmented and updated. Also Read – Top Three Ways Businesses Can Benefit from Recruitment Agency Services
Simplify case management
Another way you can integrate technology into your services is by implementing a digital business management platform. The software automates case management in more than one way. You can organize contact lists, schedule important dates, manage documents, and enter data for billing. The best part is that you need not rely on your memory or an assistant to access and manage all these critical details. Everything is at your fingertips and is shareable as well. If you need to share documents with other attorneys in the team, you can do it without worrying about accessibility and security.
Strengthen cases with robust evidence
When it comes to driving innovation in your services, nothing matters more than winning cases for your clients. After all, it is the reason you are in business. As cases become complex and criminals are smarter than ever, conventional investigative techniques may not be enough. You can go a notch higher with digital forensics for evidence collection. A huge volume of evidence is available in mobile devices these days, so Cell Phone Forensics Software is a necessity for law firms. You can also use technologies like Artificial Intelligence and data analytics to get better insights into the cases. Investing in the right tools and bringing experts on board sets you up for success.
Facilitate monthly invoicing
Besides strengthening evidence, artificial intelligence can help firms with billing and invoicing as well. It is often hard to track every activity that a lawyer does for a specific case with a manual system. They take phone calls, attend meetings, work on documents, go for hearings, and do a lot more while handling a case. Things get complicated when you have several lawyers handling multiple cases each. An AI-based system tracks these pieces of information, pulls them together, and creates an accurate timesheet for each employee at the end of the day. It even rolls the entire information into a monthly invoice you can share with the clients.
Align back office and front office
Law firm operations are more complex than ever. Aligning the back office and front office areas is perhaps the most daunting challenge. You can rely on software solutions to make them work in tandem. For example, an ERP application can help you segregate and organize the back-office specialists by practice area. Each group has dedicated financial and marketing and professionals who take care of their core areas. At the same time, they know their practice area better over time. It helps with better proficiency in business development for their specialty area. In the long run, your firm has better growth prospects with smarter people aligning well with the frontline legal heroes.
Extend reach with online communities
Legal tech extends beyond the core operations of your firm as you can use it for marketing as well. You will probably have a website and social media presence to promote your services. But it is time to extend your reach by creating online communities with clients, industry professionals, and like-minded people. Rather than just focusing on growing your business, you must take a philanthropic stance with these communities. Build them as a resource for disadvantaged people and communities to provide pro bono legal advice and counseling. Encourage young lawyers who are fresh out of law school by offering mentorship and employment support.
Embracing legal tech can take your services and reputation a notch higher. It streamlines business and brings a competitive advantage for your law firm. So you must not think twice about the investment, even if it appears to be a hefty one. The benefits far outweigh the costs, and you can expect a massive ROI from tech adoption in the long run.