The coronavirus pandemic resulted in continual lockdowns, leaving many people with little choice to not only work harder but smarter.
When COVID-19 brought an unprecedented halt to the conventional methods of doing business, many in the legal profession were forced to pivot quickly.
As social distancing measures shut down courtrooms and offices, the unprepared scrambled, using whatever technology was available to keep the wheels of justice and commerce turning.
Of course, lawyers are no strangers to emerging technology, but long gone are the days when a fax machine and email sufficiently met the demands of clients.
A lot has changed in the past few decades with the advent of the personal computer and the ever-increasing reliance on the Internet.
However, according to U.S. News, the embrace of computers in the labour market started slowly. In 1990, the Pew Research Center found only 42 percent of American adults used them in some capacity. However, by 2014, that number had climbed to 81 per cent.
As processing times increased exponentially and computers became more affordable, demand grew.
“Computers have had a very profound impact in changing the type of work that humans do in the labour market,” David Dorn, a professor of international trade and labour markets at the University of Zurich, told U.S. News. “In the U.S., we now see there are more software developers and programmers than there are lawyers or automobile mechanics. This makes up for one big block of growing jobs.”
There is little doubt technology will continue to grow in significance, but that alone is not enough to guarantee success in the legal profession.
Lawyers looking to rise above the crowd and attract new clients are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone.
Marketing savvy firms turn to agencies such as the dNOVO Group for practice management strategies such as web design, training staff, planning marketing approaches and selecting the proper software.
Business practice integration is becoming more important. Gone are the days of walk-in traffic. COVID-19 has increased demand for contactless options, and a client’s point of entry has become the lawyer’s website. In such competitive times, law firms cannot simply expect their website to attract the attention of potential customers automatically.
It takes an understanding of lawyer SEO to help a search engine find the relevant information.
“We are seeing an acceleration of consumer behaviour to digital. Businesses that are best suited to thrive in this new reality are those who are embracing digital and meeting clients where they are searching,” Ben Patterson, Strategic Partnerships at Google, tells Clio.
“This would mean ensuring that you are discoverable and reachable on the tools (such as Google my Business) in which potential clients are using for their research. Therefore, making sure that your information is up to date and accurate is vital.”
Just as important as the correct website are the programs lawyers use to connect with their clients. A wealth of software is available, including VineSign, used for remote electronic signatures, and Tracument, which provides remote fax and secure sending and mailing capabilities.
Cloud-based customizable file management software platforms, such as Filevine, are available that allow users to readily access “virtual” filing cabinets from any secure location, enabling staff to access all their cases and documents.
By now, there are few people who haven’t had to rely on a videoconferencing platform to replace an in-person meeting. These programs save money and time since lawyers are no longer required to travel to meet with clients.
And, while it should be noted that in-person meetings will never completely disappear, videoconferencing is not going away when the world returns to some sense of normalcy following the coronavirus crisis.
Finding more effective ways to stay connected remotely will undoubtedly play a big role in every successful law firm’s modus operandi.
Of course, with the growing reliance on remote technology comes the increased need to invest in cybersecurity. Client information can be highly prized by hackers, who can break into a network in ways that some may not have even considered.
Paul J. Unger with the legal consulting company Affinity Consulting Group in Columbus, Ohio, told the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) that the pandemic opened a Pandora’s box of cybersecurity concerns.
“Almost overnight, people had to go home and work. People grabbed laptops out of desk drawers at home, and they cobbled together and jerry-rigged systems to be able to work. Documents were copied to hard drives and to Dropbox, and data was decentralized,” Unger tells the CBA. “You can’t secure documents that are scattered.”
Unger offered the following suggestions to law firms:
● Educate staff.
● Create a cyber task team.
● Retain a cybersecurity expert.
● Keep only necessary information.
● Maintain security when working remotely.
● Get cybersecurity insurance.
Unger says cybersecurity must be an ongoing endeavour if it is to be effective. “It’s important for people to know that this is never going away,” he told the bar association.
