By Stella van Lane – Legal technology is the best solution for many law firms to stay competitive in the face of increasingly sophisticated technology and altering client expectations. In order for law companies to succeed in 2022, they must follow theseseven legal technology trends.
What is the definition of legal technology?
It’s crucial to grasp what legal technology is before diving into the latest trends. Legal technology employs new technologies to provide more efficient and effective legal services, ranging from artificial intelligence and automation to blockchain technology.
Previously, the term “legal technology” was used to describe technologies used by law firms for practice administration, billing, document storage, and accounting. Law companies were slow to adopt these solutions, preferring to stick to tried-and-true methods.
However, legal technology has come a great way in a short period of time. It can now be utilized to adapt a law firm to the modern problems of practicing law in a post-pandemic world and to provide clients with better, faster, and more complete services. It also makes lawyers’ lives easier by providing remote work options, continual connectivity, improved timekeeping and billing, and more.
Going Digital
The digital revolution is sweeping sectors around the world, and it’s even made its way into the legal system. Consumers are migrating to digital, and law firms must adapt to meet their clients where they want to be.
Read: How to grow your digital brand in the physical world
At the very least, law firms should ensure that their information is up to date and correct on search engines and company sites such as Google My Business. Because clients use search to identify legal firms, it’s critical for law firms to keep their information up to date.
Adaptation of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a lucrative technology in practically every industry, and law firms are recognizing its worth in handling day-to-day activities. As the volume of data grows, law firms must rely on technology to improve data management and the customer experience.
Read: How Artificial Intelligence Predicts Trading Market
AI can automate repetitive tasks which frees lawyers to focus on more complex and strategic tasks. For example, paralegals and junior lawyers can use AI to sift through documents faster and more accurately than humans. AI can also analyze case information to create case strategies, predict possible outcomes, and prioritize tasks.
The Rising Importance of Cybersecurity
Cybercrime is becoming more prevalent, particularly in the legal field. As legal companies move from an in-person to a remote or hybrid work environment, more sensitive data is in danger of being hacked or breached by criminal actors.
Law firms are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks because of the nature of their work. When a law firm is hacked, sensitive information about their clients and their cases can be compromised. Utilizing technologies such as encryption and cloud archiving can help law firms protect sensitive data and stay compliant with relevant regulations.
Read: What Are the Most Common Cybersecurity Threats Your Business Might Encounter
Utilizing Automation
For law companies to be productive, workflow automation is a valuable tool. Non-legal work, such as marketing, client communications, and accounting and billing, is frequently assigned to law firm management and leadership, depleting billable time spent on client matters.
Law companies already use automation, but it’s expected to grow in 2022 as a way to enhance efficiency and cut costs. Many repetitive duties, such as billing and invoicing, can be handled by legal automation technology.
Read: Best IT Automation Software Tools
Focusing on Clients
In 2022, the legal industry is likely to change to a more client-focused strategy. Clients desire more distant legal options, such as video conferencing with lawyers.
Clients care about diversity, sustainability, and inclusion in legal firms that are focused on the future. By implementing remote processes and a hybrid work model, law firms can expand their talent pool and attract people from a variety of backgrounds, as well as improve learning and development opportunities.
Furthermore, practice management solutions enable legal teams to text clients directly from the platform, automate emails, and view client information from anywhere with an internet connection. Lawyers in the field may now stick to a schedule and speak with clients when it counts most, whether at client lunches or at the courthouse.
Read: 5 Ways eCommerce Personalization Increases Customer Loyalty
Being More Available
Modern clients are more concerned than ever before, and they expect legal teams to respond quickly to their queries and concerns. Clients are looking for attorneys that are available and ready to answer queries and provide relief from case stress rather than browsing the internet.
Lawyers are put under a lot of stress as a result of this, but many law companies are investing in solutions that provide this type of service. To serve clients when lawyers and legal teams are unavailable, law firms are partnering with groups that provide 24/7 website and phone access to assist clients.
Over to You
The legal sector is getting increasingly comfortable with automation, remote hearings, video conferencing, and other technology services that improve client communications, expedite workflows, and improve work-life balance, despite its traditional approach.
Legal technology, when used effectively, has the potential to reduce existing barriers and have a positive impact on the legal industry.
Stella van Lane is a Sydney based mom and a passionate writer in love with coffee, chocolate, music, books and good vibes. Her top interests are business, technology, health, etc. Follow her on Twitter
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