Legal technology (legal tech), or the use of technologies such as cloud, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics in the legal practice, has radically improved how legal firms manage client data. Examples of legal tech solutions include:
With the recent shift to remote working due to the COVID-19 pandemic, legal tech solutions have become more relevant than ever. Law firms and legal departments in Charlotte, North Carolina and the rest of the country are increasingly relying on them to continue to function remotely. To some extent, many firms have been forced to adopt them, even if they were once skittish about it. But because of this, law professionals are discovering more efficient ways to get work done.
Once the pandemic is over and they return to their offices, lawyers and their staff will likely not give up these improvements in efficiency. And with this continued adoption of legal tech, the ways in which lawyers work will continue to change. This will include the development or acceptance of nontraditional skills.
How is legal tech shaping the skills of lawyers?
Increased collaboration with tech specialists
Because of legal tech, lawyering has shifted from being a profession that’s sole-sourced and parochial into one that’s more diverse and collaborative. Take, for example, the increased use of electronic litigation database tools. With it, law firms are compelled to work with tech specialists called litigation support professionals. These days, the law isn’t just for lawyers, and tech isn’t just for techies.
Legal tech has also made legal services more customer-centered. For example, firms can automate high-volume/low-value tasks such as sorting through hundreds of client files. This frees the firm’s staff to focus instead on delivering more value to clients.
If law firms wish to thrive, they have to adapt to a tech-driven delivery model, which will require firms to partner with tech specialists.
Increased computer literacy
According to Law Technology Today, legal skills are no longer the primary requirement to be an outstanding lawyer. A good lawyer is expected to leverage as many skill sets as they can to solve issues or win cases. The rise of legal tech is partly responsible for this, requiring lawyers to be tech-savvy to reap its benefits. Meanwhile, clients now expect their lawyers to at least be adept at communicating through various channels, and the information on their cases to be easily accessible.
Tech-aided legal intuition
Legal intuition, along with research, has always been an asset in lawyering and can only be developed by years of practice. And though tech-savviness may not play a role in sharpening this skill, there are legal tech tools that can help validate a lawyer’s instinct, whether it’s for evidence or other particular issues. Some of these tools, as noted by Lexology, use artificial intelligence to predict court outcomes, helping firms strengthen their position in courtroom scenarios.
Better focus
Learning about case after case doesn’t end with the study of law. Practicing law entails just as much, if not more, research. Lawyers are so busy that they rarely have enough time to stop and really think about their profession. With automation technologies, professionals from various industries are freed from manually repetitive tasks to focus on core competencies. The same can be said for how legal tech increases a law firm’s efficiency and simplifies time-consuming tasks. Lawyers then have more time to look deeper into their practice, as well as focus on career growth or competitiveness.
The staff and associates of your law firm need to focus on cases and clients. They don’t have time to worry about technology, especially during these times. SpectrumWise takes care of these technology needs so that you can deliver more efficient legal services and provide innovative ways to satisfy your clients. We’ll show you how legal tech solutions can help grow your firm and increase productivity.
