Tech Challenges, Trends and Solutions for Law Firms and Legal Departments
Historically, in-house legal departments and law firms haven’t always been the fastest to adopt new tech. Things are changing, however. In the last few years, and especially since the Covid-19 pandemic, law firms and legal departments are more tech-focused than ever.
There are a few reasons why. For some firms, it’s about accommodate remote workers, and attracting new talent. One recent Gartner article notes that many emerging legal tech trends point back to smaller staffing budgets, dealing with overhead challenges, shifting toward a new talent pool, and trying to ease the workloads of specialists.
From Brightstone’s perspective, here are some of the challenges our law clients are sharing with us.
They're concerned with how well essential data is organized. They need to access files and find things faster.
Security remains top of mind, especially in a world where everything is confidential.
Along similar lines, firms and legal teams are looking for new, secure, and trusted ways to offsite their data. Doing so the right way is the key to avoiding security mishaps.
In some cases, firms need help with how they manage and secure online meeting spaces.
Finally, a number of our legal clients need support with office or business applications, such as their CRM and accounting software.
Here are some of the ways we’re supporting law firms and legal teams.
1. Secure, reliable remote access to data
Having remote access to data is more critical than ever. This is where web-based apps come into play. One of the solutions we trust is JumpCloud. A number of our clients have benefited from making this open directory platform a key part of their IT infrastructure.
2. VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)
Across the board, VPS are more popular than ever. For our law clients and others, VPNS allow for remote access, greater protection, and enhanced security when on mobile. Our take is that a VPN is the right way to go for any small business that wants to emphasize security and data integrity.
3. OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
There are a number of other products that can benefit law firms and legal teams. For instance:
Security cameras at entrances and at critical points in an office can help you see who is accessing the facility or a secure area. Depending on implementation, you can access cameras from virtually anywhere an internet connection is available.
Door keypads or ID card readers ensure that only authorized persons enter the facility or critical internal rooms. These devices can hook into an existing network as an add-on, providing another layer of security.
TCP/IP or “internet” phones are also gaining popularity among law firms and legal teams. Connected via Wi-Fi or an ethernet cable, these phones make and complete calls over the internet. The call quality is great, and security comes via being part of a firm’s secure internal network. These phone services are often cheaper and more reliable than traditional phone company services.
How are things shifting for your law firm or legal team where tech is concerned? Is technology having a different or greater impact than in previous years? Are you looking for a new solution to simplify the way your people are doing business, and supporting clients? Let’s start a conversation.