4 Ways Digital is Changing the Legal Field

The practice of law has been revolutionized by the digital age. Attorneys have historically been known for generating mountains of paperwork, but this new digital age has tremendous benefits for this age-old profession. Digital space has changed the legal field in many ways and here are a few of the highlights.

File Storage

An attorney with a clean desk used to mean that attorney had no work to do. Today it means he or she has gone digital. Client files can be cumbersome, ranging in size from a simple manila folder to stacks of boxes full of information for a single client. The legal process also moves slowly, so busy lawyers touch many files in a single day, resulting in stacks of paperwork and files piled all over the office floor. Digitized files have literally lightened the paper load for attorneys, clearing the clutter and allowing for better accessibility to files. Now attorneys, clients, and courts all have electronic access to information that was previously buried in a stack of paper.

Targeting More Clients

The internet, and specifically social media, has changed the scope of marketing in every industry. Attorneys can now target clients from a larger geographic area, and clients can seek out the best attorney for them, not just the closest one or the one that a friend or family member has used. Services such as Legal Services Link are invaluable to legal practitioners and clients, allowing attorneys and clients to find one another and connect at the click of a button.

Legal Research

Prior to the age of electronics, case law research was notoriously difficult to do and keep up-to-date. Attorneys would have to wait for the publisher to issue a paper supplement to its hardcover book of opinions in order to get the latest information. These days legal research is much simpler to conduct online, from the comfort of home or office rather than pouring over stacks of old library books. Search engines also remove much of the guesswork and reading through endless opinions, the majority of which ultimately prove to be irrelevant.

Lawyer-Client Communication

Great communication is fundamental to the attorney-client relationship. Attorneys need information and answers, while clients need status updates and reassurance. Email and text messaging allow attorneys and clients to exchange information much more quickly and efficiently, reducing turn-around time and allowing cases to progress faster. This also allows attorneys to get more work done each day and carry a larger caseload, which is essential to maintaining a successful practice.

Posted - 06/16/2015