No objection: Law firms need IT now more than ever
The year 2020 challenged law firms just as it did to most all businesses around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic blew apart financials, operations, and plans, and forced us all to rethink what was business-critical moving forward. Typically, law firms are not on the front line when it comes to adopting new technology, but the pandemic has since shown what happens when you resist advancement.
The billable hour is (still) king
Virus or no virus, billable hours rule most every law firm. So you can imagine how distressing it is when those hours aren’t accrued and billed due to IT issues or underperforming technology. Technology should improve staff productivity and efficiency, rather than being a distraction that hinders workflow.
Most businesses rarely stop to calculate the cost of disruption or burdensome technology. It’s an exercise worth doing, and you’ll likely be amazed at what you’ll find.
Shameless plug: We helped one of our legal clients eliminate 75% of their IT-related issues, resulting in a cost savings of $250,000. It’s just one example of how higher-performing technology ensures a higher-performing law firm. An appropriately designed, holistic IT solution reduces downtime, increases efficiency, encourages competitive differentiation, and enables employees to do what they do best. Read the full success story here.
Set a new precedent for access and efficiency
Think about all the places your legal teams will go in a day. Client offices. Airports. Courtrooms. Hotels. Restaurants. And even home. So it’s not too much of a stretch to ask them to move to the cloud where they can work beyond the physical office. Regardless of where they are during the day, they will need access to your internal systems, data, and applications. A cloud-based platform provides access to the information they need, wherever they are, without the unreliability or extra steps of a VPN or other access issues. Cloud solutions also save time and hassle with the elimination of on-premise servers and associated expenses.
Attorney-client privilege in a digital world
Practicing law has always required attorneys to keep silent on private information from their clients. Any indiscretions can affect the course of a legal case or matter at any time. So now add in hackers and any other digital disruptors with the intent of making your information theirs.
Cybersecurity has never been more critical for law firms and their clients. As a rule, cyber attackers are much better armed to infiltrate your firm than you probably think possible. All your sensitive documents, data and client information are valuable and have become prime targets for hackers who delve into malware, phishing and ransomware attacks to easily relieve you of valuable client and business information. Factor in the number of employees working virtually and you’re practically laying out a welcome mat to your data if your cybersecurity measures aren’t as strong as they should be. That’s why partnering with a solid IT solutions firm should be your first initiative this year.
Slap a Restraining Order on old business continuity or disaster recovery
The right IT company will help glean weaknesses and vulnerabilities for top-of-mind security. You’ll be able to create strategic solutions that support business continuity. No re-inventing the wheel all the time either. When you work with a professional IT firm, they will guide you on appropriate decisions that will move your firm forward. And believe us, we would rather be head first in ramping up a tech solution than coming in later armed with bandages. Disasters are just as bad as they sound. We hate them and work hard to do everything possible to prevent them from happening. Downtime, missed court appearances, loss of billable hours, and loss of client information can be devastating and costly. The right IT strategy can help you avoid it at all costs.
For the people: Prioritizing human tech
In 2020, a year in which we were asked to stand six feet apart from others in our immediate space, it may or may not be surprising that a tech trend for law firms in 2021 is pushing for more humanness. More empathetic voices. Less stress in any type of engagement. Any time you can manage to smile through the digital space, do it.
This year’s successful law firms know they’re now required to be on and available 24/7, so their tech solutions must behave brilliantly around the clock. Recovery from COVID is the first thing on the agenda. We can’t say we know anyone who cherished 2020. But you don’t always have to love something to get the best lessons from it. Now that 2020 is in the rear-view, it’s time to apply what we’ve learned. Here’s to good things ahead.
We’d like to redefine what you can expect from an IT partner. Law firms like yours rely on Calyx to deliver a technology experience that no one else can match — a fully-managed cloud platform and support that make it easy for you to work anywhere, with less risk, hassle, or disruption.