Digital transformation has long entered the world of work. Aside from businesses and retail jobs, the legal industry has also seen technological advancements. In 2022, the Ministry of Justice announced a new £4 million investment to lead the way for the second phase of the LawtechUK programme. The programme aims to support modernisation by developing emerging technologies like machine learning and data analytics tools. The government-backed initiative was officially launched in 2019, with an initial £2 million investment.
The investment helps fund the transformation of the UK legal sector through technology, providing resources, programmes, and courses to promote new ways of delivering and accessing legal services via innovative digital solutions.
Alongside government support and investment, new third-party technological innovations have entered the legal industry. In a previous post, we highlighted artificial intelligence technology like OpenAI‘s conversational AI tools and Google’s chatbot, Bard AI. While there are fears of AI taking over human employees’ jobs, using AI and automation properly can innovate, inspire, and encourage employees in the legal industry, boosting productivity and streamlining workflows.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the various forms of digital transformation in the legal industry and how they can positively impact employees:
Optimising legal document management
It’s no secret that law firms and legal departments deal with large amounts of paperwork. Even for non-legal businesses in other industries, legal document management is crucial for handling paperwork like employment contracts, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), and more. These documents are crucial for legal compliance and better employee management. In a piece from Thomson Reuters, document automation is described as a quick and more accurate way to produce legal documents using robust and automated templates, eliminating the monotony of the essential task.
In recent years, law firms have begun using legal drafting software to help streamline the legal document management process. Definely is one such software, a unified solution that allows lawyers to handle each stage of a legal document’s lifecycle, helping optimise the creation, drafting, and proofreading process. Using software like Definely, lawyers can create new legal documents based on data and information from the firm’s internal document repository using large language models to save time and boost accuracy. Like most drafting and writing software, Definely also helps automate hundreds of proofreading checks to ensure no typing errors and mistakes go unseen. Today, the software is used by some of the largest law firms around the world, including Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May, Dentons, Eversheds, Deloitte, Ericsson, and Barclays. It ranks as the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK and also made it into the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50. Some companies also incorporate the tech via a Microsoft Word Plugin so it easily integrates into existing workflow.
Using software to speed up and improve legal document management can help law firms direct their time and resources to other areas of their work. Other technologies used to optimise legal document management include legal document scanning services, which have become essential for digitising legal paperwork while retaining the utmost accuracy and for future reference.
Creating room for hybrid And remote work
Another essential step forward brought forth by digital transformation in the legal industry is promoting hybrid or remote work. Like other job roles, lawyers can also benefit from working remotely or in hybrid setups. According to insights from Osprey Approach, a recent survey found that 58% of UK workers said they had been more productive due to working from home, and lawyers are no exception. Another survey held among legal professionals found that 77% of senior lawyers favour some aspects of remote working. In comparison, 22% said they were likely to leave if they couldn’t shift to a hybrid working setup.
Hybrid and remote work have been shown to help increase communication and collaboration among department members and firm employees. Of course, law firms must adapt to the latest work technologies available to maximise the benefits of hybrid and remote work. Software and platforms that facilitate in-team and firm-wide communications are essential to ensure everyone is up-to-date with the latest changes. This is especially crucial for law firms looking to improve efficiency and provide the best services possible. Still, it’s essential to set a balance between in-office and remote work. In 2023, UK law firm Gateley modified its hybrid working policy by reducing the amount of time lawyers are permitted to work from home. The firm clarified that the three days a week of non-remote work may include in-office days, but may also include time spent working on-site with clients or third parties, attending court, or being at industry events.
It’s also important that law firms adopt digital transformation solutions and services to ensure employees feel confident in using them. Investing in employee training and skill development is crucial for lawyers to fully utilise the software available to them instead of introducing unwanted obstructions, frustrations, and delays in the workflow. While the future of remote work in the UK’s legal industry remains uncertain, insights from the International Bar Association indicate that law firms in the country continue to adopt hybrid work policies that provide employees with the flexibility to work remotely for several days in a week while salaries remain the same. Law firms have also noted an increase in recruitment levels upon introducing hybrid work.
Improving customer experience
Finally, continued digital transformation in the legal industry has also improved customer experience as law firms optimise their quality services to serve clients best. In the legal sector, constant communication with clients is an essential aspect of the job. Whereas in-person meetings used to be the norm, lawyers can now establish communication via modern solutions from phone calls and e-mails to video conferencing and instant messaging.
Many law firms have adopted secure communication technologies that promote client collaboration and top security. These platforms help promote a culture of open communication without worrying about confidential information. Recently, Access Legal, a division of the Access Group completed its acquisition of UK legaltech app inCase. The inCase mobile app boosts productivity by making client communication quick and easy. Used by over 3,300 legal professionals, firms have reported that inCase helps reduce over 80% of calls and emails across throughout the firm. Aside from the added efficiency, lawyers can also benefit from the reduced workload.
Another aspect of modern customer experience in the legal industry is the demand for 24.7 services. While it’s unfair to expect lawyers to work overtime and be available outside the traditional 9-to-5, law firms have begun offering web portals, platforms, and applications where clients can log in to access relevant documents, complete tasks like contract and legal document review, and use communication options when they need to. Some of these web portals may also provide access to self-service tools. This has also paved the way for the rise of alternative legal service providers (ALSPs) built to offer a technology-based client experience for routine tasks.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the rise of digital transformation in the industry can help legal professionals work more efficiently and accurately. With the proper training and skill development, lawyers nowadays can access various digital solutions to help better serve their clients. Whether through legal document management or balancing remote and in-office hours, the impact of digital innovation throughout law firms is undeniable and significant for improving productivity, quality of service, and customer experience.
At the same time, it’s crucial that industry professionals note how existing technologies and solutions can work alongside newer innovations for easier and better integration. Definely’s Microsoft Word integration is a great example, as most legal professionals are likely familiar with the software and won’t have to be trained from scratch to effectively benefit from the added functionalities and features.
Author: Binu Jacob – EFS Engagement & Communications Co-lead
Photo credit: StockCake
