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There are many benefits associated with leveraging the right technology. It can help many law firms run more efficiently, satisfy clients better, research cases faster, improve collaboration, automate tasks, and maintain an output that is competitive with larger firms. Being able to make better use of existing time is crucial.
According to the 2022 Legal Trends Report, lawyers on average spend less than 3 hours per day on billable tasks. So, where does the non-billable time go, and how can you help your lawyers automate some of the time-consuming tasks?
Why not let technology help you with automating your most convoluted processes and reap its benefits, so your lawyers have more time for what really matters? There is a variety of tools that can help you reduce the time lawyers spend on office administration, arranging meetings, generating and sending bills, configuring technology, collecting payments, etc.
How to choose the right technology for your law firm
With so many tech solutions to choose from, it can be difficult to know what will work best for your firm. At any law firm, new technology tools should be handpicked and implemented carefully and thoughtfully. Before you start assessing solutions and making choices, consider the following:
- Identify your challenges
- Make sure the vendor is secure
- Run a Proof of Concept (POC)
You can also get inspired by what other law firms find work for them. In ILTA’s technology survey, they collected inputs from 541 law firms representing about 275,000 users. By looking into this data, you can figure out where your law firm sits tech-wise among the pack, and it might help you discover trends in legal.
You can discover how technology is changing the legal tech space to help you and your firm move forward in this post-pandemic workplace and workforce. However, the most important thing is always to make sure you choose tech that is compatible with your law firm’s needs.
Top 10 technology tools for lawyers
Here is a comprehensive list of the top technology tools used by law firms to reduce manual tasks and maximize billable hours for attorneys and partners. These tools have been handpicked based on their effectiveness and popularity in the legal industry. While the list is created in no particular order, it can serve as inspiration for law firms looking to streamline their operations and boost productivity.
1. Aderant: Practice management vendor
Aderant gives you everything from core back-office practice management to attorney time tracking and talent management. Aderant is a global industry leader that provides comprehensive business management software for law firms and other professional services organizations.
The company’s technology brands include Aderant Expert for practice management, Handshake and Drive for knowledge management, iTimekeep, OCG Live & Thrive for timekeeping and compliance, BillBlast for eBilling, CompuLaw for docketing and calendaring, and Expert Case for legal case management.
2. AskCody: Meeting and conference scheduling/management vendor
AskCody is a SaaS Platform native to Microsoft 365 for Meeting Management and Resource Scheduling. It empowers your legal services team to control their scheduling, visitor management, and ordering of services like catering, room setup, and AV equipment from one modern platform.
3. Cisco Systems: Infrastructure vendor
Cisco Systems is a software-defined networking hardware and software vendor that develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products. Cisco specializes in specific tech markets such as the Internet of Things (IoT), domain security, videoconferencing, and energy management with subsidiaries such as Webex, which is often utilized for video conferencing software in the legal industry.
4. Clio: Client relationships management vendor
Clio provides a suite of cloud-based solutions, including legal practice management, client intake and CRM, online payments, and client-attorney communication and collaboration software. Clio is designed specifically for law firms and helps lawyers stay organized, bill efficiently, and engage clients.
5. Litera: License productivity and risk management software vendor
Litera is an office application software widely utilized in the legal industry that helps legal teams perfect documents, run deals, and manage cases. Litera provides software for drafting, proofreading, comparing, repairing, and cleaning documents in the legal industries. Their core products empower users to generate, review, and distribute high-quality content quickly and securely, from any device.
6. Microsoft: Operating system and application programs vendor
Microsoft is the world's largest publisher of operating systems and application programs for personal computers. Their key products include office Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook, as well as their operating systems, and web browser. Microsoft 365 is a powerful business tool, and while Microsoft Endpoint Manager/SCCM is often the preferred software distribution tools for automating software installations and updates in the legal field, Microsoft is also the leading brand of video conference system that law firms use in conference rooms according to the ILTA’s technology survey 2022.
7. Netdocuments: DMS/ECM system vendor
Netdocuments is a cloud-only content management platform where you can secure, organize and collaborate on everything that matters for your law firm. It is a preferred DMS/ECM system for law firms that ensures content is always safe, organized, compliant, and available.
8. Olympus: Practice management vendor
Olympus is a popular brand when it comes to technology tools for digital dictation. It offers increased productivity in lawyers' and their admins in their daily work with professional dictation devices and speech-to-text solutions.
9. Pexip: Video technology platform vendor
Pexip makes secure video collaboration for judiciaries worldwide. It is a tool for virtualizing court hearings using a seamless video solution. The Pexip Virtual Courts solution uses automation and easy-to-use features to virtualize judicial proceedings and streamline court flows, making communications more efficient, convenient, and accessible.
10. Smartsheet: Project management vendor
Smartsheets helps you manage projects, automate processes, and scale up to enterprise-level programs and portfolios, all with one platform. Smartsheet offers a rich set of views, workflows, reports, and dashboards to capture and track your plans, resources, and schedules. From projects to multi-faceted company-wide initiatives, Smartsheets is a technology tool that adapts to your needs.
Valuable mentions for legal tech software
If you're in search of additional tools to enhance your legal tech arsenal, here are some noteworthy mentions that can bring significant improvements to your workplace and boost your bottom line. Have a close look at these tools to improve your tech stack.
Everlaw - e-discovery and data storing for the legal industry
Everlaw is a cutting-edge online legal management tool that is widely used by corporations, law firms, government agencies, and law enforcement authorities for complex legal work. It specializes in electronic discovery, which involves identifying and investigating electronically stored data, collecting electronic evidence, and tagging documents, among other tasks. Everlaw's e-discovery module offers advanced features such as intelligent search capabilities and a prediction engine that helps users quickly access relevant case documents.
PracticePanther - document and contract management software
For law firms specializing in personal injury, bankruptcy, estate planning, criminal law, divorce, litigation, and more, the PracticePanther software is a must-try. This highly regarded legal management solution is favored by small, medium, and large law firms for its user-friendly and intuitive interface. As a web-based application, PracticePanther can be easily accessed on most computers, offering core features such as case management, document management, contact management, calendaring, docketing, time tracking, invoicing, and billing. Additionally, PracticePanther provides Android and iOS apps for seamless mobility and remote work, allowing users to sync their work from their computers to their smartphones, enabling easy access to case files even while commuting.
Westlaw - Research software for legal teams
Westlaw is a comprehensive suite of legal research tools designed to streamline the research process for lawyers and law firms. With Westlaw, legal professionals can significantly reduce research time while accessing case information that enhances their case strategy. A standout feature of Westlaw is KeyCite, which provides a citation analysis to determine whether a case, statute, regulation, or administrative decision has been invalidated, ensuring that lawyers have the most up-to-date and accurate information at their fingertips.
Conclusion - Tech tools to support your lawyers
Leveraging the right technology can greatly benefit law firms by improving efficiency, client satisfaction, research capabilities, collaboration, and automation. With lawyers spending less than 3 hours per day on billable tasks, it becomes crucial to automate time-consuming processes. By carefully selecting secure and compatible technology solutions, law firms can optimize their operations and maximize billable hours.
The top technology tools listed in this article, such as Aderant, AskCody, and Clio, provide comprehensive solutions for practice management, meeting scheduling, and client relationship management. Additionally, vendors like Cisco Systems and Microsoft offer infrastructure and application programs that are widely used in the legal industry.
By embracing technology and staying up-to-date with the latest trends, law firms can effectively navigate the post-pandemic workplace and workforce. So, why not explore these technology tools further and empower your law firm to thrive in the digital age?
