In many sectors of industry, outsourcing IT is generally seen as good practice. But there are also many cases in which large organisations have lost money and strategic direction by outsourcing their IT. Lawyers and law firms are naturally cautious and suspicious creatures, especially when it comes to abdicating control of an important part of their dominion – even if it is ‘just’ a support function.
However, a survey by business process outsourcing company Williams Lea in conjunction with Legal IT, of partners, finance directors and IT directors at 100 law firms has revealed that law firms are more open to outsourcing than previously believed.
The importance of IT within firms
Respondents were asked how important they believed IT was to the strategic direction of their firm. More than 60% thought IT was absolutely essential. This opinion was held by 48% of those working at small firms and a massive 76% of respondents from large firms. In general, it was found that finance directors – so often seen as enemies by firms’ IT departments – are more likely than partners to claim that IT is essential.
Three quarters of the remaining respondents thought that IT was, at least, a ‘very important’ component of the firm’s overall strategy. The rest – one in 10 of the total poll – cited IT as ‘quite important’. This is a far cry from the not-too-distant past, when most lawyers held the opinion that IT had almost nothing to contribute to the practice of law.
