The law changes, and so do the tools and technologies we use to provide legal services. For lawyers whose training is steeped in precedent and in identifying risks, there can be understandable hesitation and concern about moving to a new process or technology. This article addresses the key concerns that lawyers, paralegals and legal professionals should consider when investing in new technology. It provides three tips to get started, and five key questions to consider as you embark on your tech journey.
TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED
TIP 1: RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL RESISTANCE TO CHANGE AND RISKS IN YOUR CURRENT PRACTICE
Many lawyers and law firms are slow to invest in technology. Consider these fears:
- The systems work (or at least are good enough). Why change them?
- Where will I find the time and money for a new system?
- What if I build something worse?
These are all fair concerns. But the counterpoint that lawyers and firms should also recognize is there are risks in not proactively upgrading and investing in systems and technology.
There are also risks to maintaining the status quo. Let’s start with an example: converting a practice from paper-based to paperless. Lawyers are often concerned about moving to paperless practice, and the risks related to cloud storage and online systems. But, there are risks in maintaining paper records.
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