Technology is a fundamental part of the practice of law today. Countless well-designed software tools are available to facilitate or automate virtually any work process a legal professional might need. Tasks that once took hours can now be done in minutes by those who know how to use the new tools correctly. Clients are increasingly aware of this, and are raising the bar on what is expected from outside counsel. In this environment, law firms that can demonstrate that they are utilizing technology to its full capacity for the benefit of the client will have a significant advantage over firms that cannot.
The adoption of technology in the legal industry has been fueled both by advances in the technologies themselves and by changes in the industry over time. Just as the typewriter was replaced by the personal computer, the personal computer is being replaced by mobile devices and apps. Artificial intelligence looms as another potential game changer. With each technological advance, firms must align the workflows that define the practice of law with the technologies that support those workflows.
