Technology For Lawyers: Are You A Technology Dinosaur Or A Legal Techie?
Even “old dinosaurs” can learn new tricks if they’re willing to try -- so why not try using PracticePanther to track your time and fees?
Is your “To-Do” list written on a legal pad?
Still using a paper calendar to schedule meetings?
Still using filing cabinets to store your documents?
Is using an iPad too advanced for your firm?
If you answered “yes” to most of the above questions, you may be a technology dinosaur. You may not realize you’re a dinosaur, but neither did the real dinosaurs. If you love technology and answered “no” to most of those questions, congrats, you’re a legal techie! Unfortunately, attorneys who don’t embrace technology may soon become extinct.
Technology Dinosaur vs. Legal Techie — Act Now Before You Become Extinct
You can avoid extinction by adapting in a world where technology can help grow your business and keep you alive. Did you know you can create a free Google Places account with the location of your firm (or home office), and within months, start getting new potential clients calling you? And did we mention it’s completely free?
Three Common Problems Dinosaur Attorneys Complain About:
- “Our office is cluttered. I can’t find my files.”
Legal techies are completely paperless. All they do is purchase a Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner ($410), and save all their scanned documents to Box.com or Dropbox. They never have to worry about losing another file, and can instantly find and share any file with their team or opposing counsel.
- “Billing takes a full day at the end of each month.”
If it takes you 8 hours to create invoices, and you charge $250/hour, you could have made $2,000 more by practicing law during that time. Then, factor in all those calls, emails, and small tasks that went un-billed. Collectively, we’re talking about tens of thousands of dollars lost each year. Tech-savvy attorneys track their time and fees with apps like PracticePanther (only $29/month). Using a practice management app saves them an average of 8 hours a week.
- “I’m afraid of missing deadlines and getting a bar complaint.”
Sometimes using your iPhone or Outlook calendar just won’t cut it, especially when growing your firm. By syncing your calendar with your paralegal and office staff, you can get SMS, email, and popup reminders on all your devices. Pro tip: Use AcuityScheduling (free) to schedule meetings with your clients.
How Can Technology Improve Your Law Practice?
“Change or die.” It’s a popular quote in any industry. You must adapt as technology improves, or you risk losing to the competition. Technology can help you increase business, improve efficiency, and lower overhead costs. The technology that is right for your firm will depend on several factors including:
- The size of your firm;
- The type of law you practice;
- Your budget;
- Your clients; and
- Your goals.
You might have to test several apps before you find the ones that improve your practice, and provide the most value. For example, one of our personal favorites is Zopim (free) which lets you chat with visitors on your website. Use Google Analytics (free) to see how many people leave your site, and chat with them before they leave!
There is Hope!
Yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for you. If you’re keen on saving time and money by using an all-in-one app, check out http://practicepanther.com, built specifically for attorneys. Above The Law readers get 50% off their first 3 months using coupon code ATL50. So there you have it, even “old dinosaurs” can learn new tricks if they’re willing to try.
Julian Gutierrez is an online marketing and legal tech expert. As the digital marketing manager at PracticePanther, he oversees the easy-to-use interface, helping lawyers manage their time, expenses, client communications, billing, matters, and more. Thousands of lawyers, paralegals, and firms in over 25 countries use PracticePanther on a daily basis. Schedule a demo today and get 50% off your first 3 months using coupon code “ATL50”.
