Login | April 25, 2024
Office technology up to date? Take this inventory.
RICHARD WEINER
Technology for Lawyers
Published: September 9, 2016
The Oklahoma Bar Association recently published a sort of cyber agenda for law firm retreats. I’m adapting it to give an inventory of what a law office should have as its stock legal technology, at this point in history. You know, today. Three-quarters of the way through 2016.
If your office doesn’t have these technologies, you are far behind. You’re too old for this business. Retire now while you still can.
First up-- paperless, digital client files. The time to fully convert to digital client files is now. Although the conversion may be painful, the benefits are plentiful. Your desk and office won’t be stacked with files. You’re saving the rainforests of Maine (really- go smell Maine paper mills some time). Remote access to files. The ability to instantly update documents across the file. Complete backup. Up-to-the-second billing. The list goes on.
The paperless office also requires practice management software. Digital client files powered by practice management software will be the norm very soon. The question really is to inventory the office so that it is up-to-date with training, and so that the software, usually cloud-based, is used in conjunction with best practices and makes the office run the most efficient way possible. Keep updating.
Next up is client communication (covered extensively in this column recently). Inventory both the documents generated in communication with the client, and the portals used to effectuate that communication. Go back to my previous columns on the topic.
Automated document assembly fits in next. It just saves so much time and minimizes so many errors. The reduction in labor time can also drive your fees down, but alternative fee agreements are all the rage right now.
There are now some very good and very new law office accounting apps that automatically track trust fund accounts. Check that out and update your systems.
And then, check your security. Over and over. And over. You can literally lose your entire law practice to a ransomware attack overnight. You don’t want that to happen.
Lastly, make sure that your online presence is appropriate and effective. At this point that, at least, should be a no-brainer.