Become A Better Lawyer By Increasing Efficiency And Improving Client Service

As the legal landscape becomes more competitive, lawyers are increasingly seeking new ways to increase efficiency and make the most of their time. After all, time is money, especially when you bill by the hour. Fortunately, 21st century technologies provide attorneys with a host of options designed to streamline law firm processes, saving both time and money.

One of the most cost-effective ways to achieve these goals is to selectively use the latest technology in your law firm to reduce paper, redundancies, and inefficiencies. That’s why the latest American Bar Association Legal Technology Survey Report shows an increase in the use of technology by law firms of all sizes. Astute lawyers are realizing that investing in the right tools and software can make all the difference and allow their firms to stand out from the competition.

For example, did you know that lawyers are using law practice management software in their practices more than ever? Small firm lawyers lead the way with nearly 40% reporting that their firms used law practice management software, with solo lawyers close behind at 30%.

Lawyers are also increasingly using legal software to increase collaboration, both internally and with clients. For starters, more attorneys than ever are using law firm software for document management and collaboration. 53% report using software to collaborate with clients, while 46% use document management software in their law firms.

One reason lawyers are incorporating new tools into the law firms is because today’s legal consumers have different expectations than they did even five years ago. Your clients are used to conducting business and obtaining the information that they need online, whether it’s with their bank, their doctor, or you, their lawyer.

That’s why collaborating with legal clients using software is also on the rise. Nearly a quarter of all lawyers use online portals with clients. Using the portals, the attorneys are able to share documents with their clients (31%), communicate in a secure environment (24%), and share case status updates (17%) and upcoming court dates (14%).

Another way lawyers are providing better client service is by sharing invoices and accepting online payments via credit card or ACH payments. In fact, according to the survey results, 18% of lawyers now provide online billing options to their clients, saving them time and money. There’s no need to pay for envelopes and stamps or waste time writing out a check; instead their clients can instantly pay their bills with a click of a button.

Cloud computing use by lawyers is increasing as well, with 40% of small firms using it, followed by 37% of solo attorneys. The top tasks accomplished by lawyers using cloud computing software included time and billing, centralized case management, document management, and contact management.

Is your law firm as efficient as it can be? What steps is your law firm taking to streamline firm processes and provide better client service? Is your firm using 21st century cost-effective software to collaborate and communicate with clients? Does your law firm offer online payment options to your clients? If not, maybe it’s time to start!

Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York attorney and the Legal Technology Evangelist at MyCase, a law practice management software company. She is the nationally-recognized author of “Cloud Computing for Lawyers” (2012) and co-authors “Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier” (2010), both published by the American Bar Association. She also co-authors “Criminal Law in New York,” a Thomson West treatise. She writes regular columns for Bloomberg Law, Above the Law, and The Daily Record and has authored hundreds of articles and regularly speaks at conferences regarding the intersection of law, mobile computing and Internet-based technology.