The Covid 19 Pandemic changed the way in which many businesses operated, and the pressures of the economy at the time meant that employers and employees all needed to find a way to adapt to this ‘new normal’ in order to continue working.

Typically, law firms have been slow to adapt to new technological advances, yet the pandemic meant that many had no choice but to utilise new technology in order to successfully communicate with their clients and partners.

The Legal Services Board (LSB) carried out a survey of 1,310 providers, including solicitors’ firms, barristers’ chambers and other regulated and unregulated businesses in the legal industry to analyse their use and opinions of the use of technology following on from Covid 19. The report states, “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a critical driver in firms recently investing in new or improved services. The second most reported driver for investing in new or improved services has been increasing or changing demand from consumers.”

The survey showed that the use of video calls and cyber-security measures were the most common new pieces of technology that the firms are utilising, though the survey measured the use of 13 different technologies, including electronic signatures, ID checking tools, live chat features and cloud-based solutions.

The report looked into the impact that technology has had on these various legal firms, finding that “Over nine in ten (95%) firms find implementing new technologies have made them more responsive to client’s needs…the most commonly reported impact and is also the most commonly reported important consideration (at 95%) for firms when implementing new technologies.”

Other impacts reported were reduced environmental impact and the reduction of time taken to deliver services to clients.

The majority of companies that participated in the study indicated that the integration of innovative technologies had enhanced their ability to cater to their client’s requirements, which in turn, improved business efficiency and subsequent profitability. As such, the use of and positive impact of technology cannot be understated.

How can technology assist law firms?

Technology can assist law firms in various ways, including:

• Document and case management: Technology allows law firms to efficiently organise and store vast amounts of documents and case files. Digital platforms and software can streamline document retrieval, improve collaboration among team members, and enhance overall organisation and efficiency.
• Research and analysis: Technology provides law firms with powerful research tools and databases that enable them to conduct extensive legal research quickly and accurately. Online resources and legal databases can assist in analysing case precedents, statutes, regulations, and relevant legal documents.
• Communication and collaboration: Technology facilitates seamless communication and collaboration within law firms and with clients. Email, video conferencing, secure messaging platforms, and virtual meeting tools enable lawyers to connect with colleagues, clients, and other shareholders regardless of their physical location.
• Automation of routine tasks: Technology enables the automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as document drafting, contract review, and legal document assembly.
• Enhanced security and data protection: Technology plays a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive client information. Law firms can utilise secure cloud storage, encryption methods, multi-factor authentication, and other cybersecurity measures to protect confidential data from unauthorised access or breaches.
• Streamlined billing and financial management: Law firms can utilise technology for efficient time tracking, billing, and financial management. Practice management software and accounting systems can automate billing processes, generate invoices, track expenses, and provide financial reports, improving transparency and streamlining financial operations.

Why choose the Proclaim case management system?

The Proclaim Case Management System (CMS) is a software solution tailored for the legal sector. Its purpose is to assist lawyers, legal teams, and courts in effectively managing and organising cases, documents, and correspondence. Proclaim encompasses a range of features, including case tracking, document management, email management, calendaring, and billing and time tracking. Utilising Proclaim can help your business in many ways, but its overarching objective is to streamline and automate diverse aspects of the legal process.

The Proclaim case management system can be personalised and adapted by our team of experienced software developers to suit the unique needs of your business. Adapting the out of box software to create a bespoke system tailored to your law firm will not only improve your business processes but also improve efficiency and productivity.

Some of the ways our team can develop Proclaim for your business include the following:

• Integrations: The Proclaim case management system can be integrated with other software and tools that users already use, such as email, calendaring, and document management systems.
• Reporting and analytics: Users can create custom reports and dashboards to visualise and analyse the data stored in the system, providing insights into case performance and trends.
• Customisable user interface: Users can customise the look and feel of the system to meet their individual needs and preferences.
• Custom fields and tags: Users can create custom fields and tags to store and organise information that is specific to their cases and workflows.
• Custom workflows: Proclaim can be configured to support the specific workflows and processes used by individual users or teams, making it easier to manage cases in the way that works best for them.

How can LPS assist

Our team of Proclaim developers are highly experienced in tailoring the software to suit our client’s individual business needs. Adapting and tailoring your case management technology will not only improve productivity in your business, but it will ultimately increase profits due to the fact that many administrative aspects of your business can be automated into Proclaim, freeing up more of your time.

If you would like to discuss how a Proclaim Developer from the LPS team could assist with the development of your Proclaim case management system, please contact us for further information. We can be contacted via email at enquiries@legalpracticesupport.co.uk, and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.