While no-one would describe digital dictation workflow technology as old hat, there are plenty of law firms where most fee earners have been using it on a daily basis for more than a year. Many of the vendors have released several upgrades and new versions of their software – and one could venture that after several years’ grace, during which the various systems have bedded down, the technology is now approaching maturity. Within the UK’s top 200 law firms by turnover, about 50% have embraced digital dictation, while the other half have not.
Close to a dozen product vendors and resellers now have legal reference sites, and each of the rival systems have their advocates – as well as their detractors. But thus far, nobody has conducted and published a comprehensive, in-depth survey of the market. How are the various digital dictation systems (DDS) living up to their promise, and how much value are the firms getting from their investment? Legal IT contacted IT directors, IT managers, IT partners and office administrators at 300 law firms – mostly based in the UK, although some of the large Australian firms were surveyed – to find out. Sixty-three firms responded.
