It is no secret that the way lawyers practice law has, in many ways, dramatically changed during the coronavirus pandemic. One such change is in the way in which lawyers collaborate and communicate. A critical element of the effective practice of law has always included collaboration and communication internally within law firms and externally with clients and courts. However, the pandemic, and the transition to remote work for most legal professionals, has presented new challenges and opportunities for re-envisioning how lawyers can and should collaborate and communicate. Advancements in technology provide solutions and some new quandaries in this space.

Collaboration and Communication Tool Adoption

Initial research during the pandemic suggests that internal legal departments are ahead of the curve in comparison to law firms in incorporating and embracing technology solutions to continue and enhance collaboration and communication. For example, Bloomberg Law recently released the results of a survey showing a marked increase in the use of law firm collaboration tools during the pandemic period (e.g., from March 2020 through present).