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Emerging Trends in Legal Tech

Gavel with legal tech

The legal industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, rendering previously efficient traditional operational practices a disadvantage. With rapid technological advancements, it is crucial to prioritize innovation and technology trends in law firms, especially if you want your office and legal practice to continue to grow and thrive. Here are three of these emerging trends in legal tech and what they can mean for your office.

Remote Work Continues to Thrive

In recent years, many firms have adopted a “just make it happen” attitude toward virtual meetings, mobility, and remote work. This has enabled law firms to reevaluate the tools and training necessary for legal professionals to utilize technology effectively, improving upon the traditional in-office setup. When executed correctly, this approach can yield long-lasting benefits for the firm. Implementing a remote work policy can help firms access a global talent pool, reduce operational costs, and create a better work-life balance for their staff.

In a recent episode of Legal Toolkit, Rob Joyner, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Centerbase, and Jared D. Correia, Esq., CEO of Red Cave Law Firm Consulting, discuss the debate between remote and in-office work, as well as the latest advancements in AI and other essential legal technology.

During the episode, the duo explains why people can generally be more productive in their home setup, mainly when supported by web conferencing platforms, such as Slack and Zoom, compared to stuffy office cubicles. They also touch upon the fact that the transition to remote work after the pandemic was more feasible than many had anticipated.

However, now, in 2024, some law firm owners are requiring their attorneys, staff, and administrators to return to the office full-time without conducting any research or asking for employee feedback when making these decisions. In fact, law.com reports that “2023 saw several elite law firms move to require four days in the office.” Unfortunately, this could have negative consequences for the firm. Jared goes on to explain how this shift could create challenges for firms in the future and highlights the numerous benefits of maintaining a remote work setup. “You can create a competitive advantage for your law firm by offering more flexibility and more opportunities to work from home, especially for younger employees who value flexibility and who don’t treat their jobs as sacrosanct.”

For further details about the benefits of remote work and what it can mean for your law firm, play the episode below.

Making Smarter Technology Purchases

Today, more than ever, there is a temptation to immediately purchase all the new, ever-evolving technology. However, buying the shiny new tech may not be the best decision for your law firm. If you struggle with restraint in these tech purchases, the episode “Dealing with the Shiny Tech Object Syndrome” from Kennedy-Mighell Report is here to help.

In the podcast, Dennis Kennedy, an award-winning leader in applying technological and web-based resources to law practices, and Tom Mighell, published author, noted legal technologist, and senior consultant for Contoural, Inc., discuss how to make smarter technology purposes by learning how to assess your true technology needs and allocate your tech budget. They also answer the question, “What under-used tech could bring more productivity to your legal practice?”

If you want to learn how to make smarter technology purposes, listen to the following episode.

Automation

Over the past few years, the rise in artificial intelligence has skyrocketed in nearly every industry. While the legal industry has slowly started to embrace this technology, its delayed rollout among firms has partially been thanks to the hesitancy to upload confidential information onto AI machine learning chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini (formerly Bard). 

AI and mind balanced on scales of justice

The use of AI becomes even more complicated when there are issues. Just like humans, AI models can make factual mistakes and use bodies of work from professionals as a foundation for their responses without proper citation.

Graham H. Ryan, a partner in the Litigation Practice Group at Jones Walker LLP, recently gave an overview of artificial intelligence and discussed his predictions for future trends on Litigation Radio.   

To Learn More About the Emerging Trends in Legal Tech, Listen to Legal Talk Network

Law firms are increasingly using technology to improve efficiency, maximize profits, and enhance client satisfaction. If you want to gain similar benefits for your firm or learn more about these emerging trends, explore Legal Talk Network’s library of shows for additional podcasts about the latest legal technology trends and how to integrate them into your firm.

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Legal Talk Network is a podcast network for legal professionals with hosts from well-known organizations and brands in legal. Over 20 active podcasts cover important legal news and developments, including access to justice, law school, industry events, legal technology, and the future of law.