top of page
Search

Essential Tech Tools for the Innovative Lawyer

Updated: Jul 24

I hesitated a lot before writing this article because I don’t want readers to conflate innovation with technology. Some of the most wonderful innovations in the legal world have nothing to do with technology (eg John Strohmeyer’s Four Seasons approach to client service[1] or Aastha Madaan’s flexible payment options[2]). One mantra every innovative lawyer must cling to is “process before technology.” Lawyers who chase exciting technology (‍‍aka me sometimes) will inevitably waste time, money, and the patience of their clients and coworkers. Instead innovative lawyers should focus first on crafting brilliant processes and then see where technology can fit within those processes.


That said, there is a baseline of technology without which lawyers will find it incredibly difficult to innovate. I’m not talking about AI research robots or even ediscovery tools. What I’m talking about is the basic technology that anyone can use (and many of you already are). Without further ado, below are the five tech tools every innovative lawyer needs.


ree

Cloud Based Office Tools


I feel pretty safe assuming that every reader has an email account and a word processor. This is undeniably the most essential tool for any office, especially legal offices that are notorious for their copious volume of writing and emailing. Many of you are probably already using the cloud-based Office 365 or Google’s g-suite (that’s what I’m using right now). If not, it’s time for an upgrade. Cloud based tools offer all the same features as the office tools you’re used to, but with the advantage of being easily able to access your work from anywhere on any device and seamlessly collaborate with others (I started this at my office. Now I’m in an elevator writing on my phone). Additionally, as I will discuss later, when all of your basic tools are cloud-based you can make them communicate with each other so you can save time by avoiding duplicative work and automating repetitive tasks.


Document Storage


Do you have an office server where you store all of your letter and motions? Why not put all of your documents there? Case research, memos, notebook pages, whatever. And what not put all of that in a secure cloud server? That way, it’s accessible anywhere and it’s easy to share files with others (especially those files too large to share by email). You can even buy reusable notebooks now that, with a simple photo taken on your phone, can automatically save your notebooks pages to a cloud server folder of your choice.[1]


The most common objection I hear about cloud-based document storage is about security. People are often concerned that if their files are on the cloud they are easier to hack. Allow me to assure you once and for all that Google, Dropbox, Microsoft or whatever reputable service you use for cloud storage is far better at ensuring security than any law firm I know. They have backup generators for their backup generators. They have biometric security doors. They have armed guards protecting their servers. So while there are always risks, you’re better off trusting your security to Dropbox than you are the server locked in a closet in your office.


Workflow


Business is the enemy of innovation. Many lawyers I speak with feel they never have time to improve on their practice because they have too much work to do. Data from Clio’s 2019 Legal Trends Report provides some good evidence that lawyers are right to feel that way. The average small firm lawyer typically only bills for 2.5 hours in an eight hour day. This is where good workflow tools can help. When you’re wearing multiple hats and handling a variety of different cases you need a way to stay on track. Thankfully there are great tools out there to fit any type of workflow and any type of personality. Whether you like simple checklists and kanban boards or more complex tools like Monday.com there are dozens of companies offering cloud solutions to help you keep track of your day and work smarter and more efficiently.


Practice Management


I suspect practice management software is the most controversial tool on this list but I would argue that for an innovative lawyer it’s no less essential than your office tools. And yet only 53% of lawyers have practice management software available to them in their firms.[2] Jack Newton, CEO of Clio, often says that his biggest competition isn’t another tech company, it’s a legal pad and a pen. This despite the fact that, in Jack’s words “PM software gives lawyers the competitive advantage in delivering client-centric, tech-enabled experiences that today’s consumers expect.”[3] But if forty-seven percent of attorneys are getting away without any practice management tools why is it essential?


Bob Ambrogi may have put it best when he said “It is the one tool that seamlessly weaves together all the essential elements of a law practice, thereby enhancing efficiency and minimizing risk.”[4] But I also like what our very own Shreya Ley had to say on the subject. “Our memories aren’t as good as we think they are and, in order to have satisfied customers and not be in a stressed panic, it’s necessary to have systems, documentation, and processes in place.”[5] Practice management software gives you that. In short, “there are two situations where a lawyer doesn’t need practice management software. First, when she doesn’t have a practice. And, second, when she doesn’t want to manage it.”[6] If you’re reading this, I have to assume that neither of these apply to you and if I’m right, you need to have some cloud-based practice management software backing up your firm. It’s how you formalize processes and it’s how you track data to determine how your firm can be improved.


Connectors


As I mentioned earlier, one of the key advantages of using all cloud-based tools is that they can communicate with each other. A lot of tools have that feature built in. Trello, the workflow tool I use, syncs with my Outlook email. Clio, my practice management software syncs with Dropbox where I store documents. Wherever my tools don’t have features built in to them, I use a connector. Zapier and IFTT (If This Then That) are the two most popular connectors. Essentially what connectors do is allow you to automate processes between various cloud-based systems using (surprise) simple “if this happens then do that” statements. Want a series of documents to be generated when you open a new estate planning matter in your practice management software? A connector can do that. Want to notify a client every time you get an update on their case? A connector can do that. The possibilities with connectors are truly endless. That’s why it’s essential for innovative attorneys; connectors allow you to build efficiencies by automating repetitive tasks across your other tech tools.


Conclusion


Though you absolutely need to have a tool that covers each of these four areas. It is not essential that you have a different tool for every category. Many tools available will cover multiple need areas. Office 365, for instance, is often used for office tools but it also comes with cloud document storage and a few workflow tools. Clio and CASEpeer are practice management softwares that incorporate document storage, workflow tools, and a variety of other things. Explore your options and find the tools that work best for you.[7]


[7] You may have noticed that I didn’t delve deeply into specific tools in this article. I felt that was best left for a separate article but the good news is, I already wrote that article! And did a full CLE about it available for free here https://www.pugetsoundlegal.net/blog/2017/7/11/tech-tools-to-streamline-and-automate-your-law-practice

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page