3.Increase access to justice. Many courts have already adopted digital tools to increase access with virtual and hybrid hearings, video conferencing and digital exhibits, improving transparency for all. Firms need to implement their own digital technology to enable them to work in synergy with the court system, as well as be able to lead in the new online legal space. 4.Offer a great employee value proposition (EVP). Professionals expect hybrid, remote and flexible working now, so implementing technology that enables this is crucial for securing the best talent. Solutions that automate repetitive tasks give professionals more time to focus on more rewarding and interesting work, enhancing the employee experience while also delivering higher-value productivity for the firm. Employers can put themselves ahead in the war for talent, implementing digital performance management and learning platforms that can have a transformative effect on employee development and advancement. 5.Maximise the cloud for running all platforms and document access, enabling real time access to information from anywhere. This is essential for effective hybrid and remote working, including being able to access important documents from client meetings and courts giving lawyers much more flexibility and versatility. It also significantly reduces the need to repeatedly copy and share multiple documents such as court bundles, as everyone who needs to see a file can access up-to-themoment versions, ensuring no one is excluded in error. 6.Transform roles and job function. Digitally literate talent is already skilled at making the best use of technology and most lawyers are doing more of their own admin these days. The role of office support staff and paralegals has changed. Many firms are using fewer legal secretaries, with the Law Society predicting in 52 LAWYER MONTHLY JUNE 2023 2019 that numbers would drop by two thirds by 2027, from one secretary for two lawyers in 1998 to one for 20 lawyers by 2027. New roles are emerging instead as the demand for on-site IT support grows. There will be other roles in future too, that may include legal AI and Virtual Reality/ Augmented Reality (VR/AR) experts and a growth in areas relating to copyright and AI. 7.Get in step with the sector. Even small law and solo practitioners will need to keep up with the rest of the profession in order to work effectively within it. As third-party digitisation grows, all firms must work to keep in line with new digital requirements, such as the Ministry of Justice’s Digital Strategy 2025. One example of this in current practice is the National Will Register, a cloud-based will registration and search service with over 10 million wills already in the system. 8.Ensure compliance with digital solutions that have integrated compliance, making sure best practice workflows and processes are adhered to. This is vital within the legal environment, where errors and oversights can be disastrous for professionals, partners and an entire firm both financially and reputationally. Digital solutions provide partners and firm managers with the assurance that they are operating within the very A digital-first approach will elevate all areas of business and functions within it.
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