Whether you’ve been in the legal field for one year or for
25, you’ll know the value of being organised. However, in the modern
‘information overload’ world that we all live in, it can be challenging to remain on top of things. There are myriad different apps and programmes you can
use to help organise your life and get ahead from your competition, however
even cutting through the noise and working out what works and what doesn’t can
be a major challenge. So what are the top tech tools for lawyers and how can
they benefit your career?
Storage
Only the most technologically illiterate are likely to have
not heard of Dropbox, the most advanced and robust file storage tool out
there. As lawyers, you’ll be well aware that your existing storage space on
your phone, tablet or desktop can get filled quickly with all the documents
that you’re sent on a daily basis, and using a programme like Dropbox can
provide extra storage as well as helping you to remain organised. It’s also a
useful – and secure – tool for exchanging information online with your clients
and colleagues.
Practice management
There are plenty of different types of practice management
software out there, some of which are suited to firms of a certain size or
specialism. However, it’s probably fair to say that the most widely effective
platform is MerusCase, a tool that lets you manage and automate your cases,
communication, calendar, court forms, templates and case files. And as the
programme is cloud-based one of the main benefits is that everything is one
place. It’s advisable to do your homework as different programmes will suit
different firms and individuals, however it’s likely you’ll find that adopting
the software will make you more organised and your files safer.
Security
Ensuring your data is secure should be an absolute priority,
particularly with the spate of high profile hacks taking place in recent
months. If organisations with the resources of the likes of Sony, Google and
IHG haven’t been able to stop hackers, then the average legal firm doesn’t
stand much chance, unless that is, it invests heavily in its online defences.
However, most companies still have their head in the sand when it comes to data
security, and it’s often down to the individual to ensure that they remain safe
when operating online. Almost every app or programme requires a password of
some sort and the ever growing list of phrases with or without a grammatical
symbol, number or capital letter can be hard to keep up with. By far and away
the best product is Lastpass as this
means you need to remember just one password. It also offers a safe and secure
place to store login and credit card details, for example.
Research tools
As you’ll all be only too aware, one of the more time
consuming aspects of the average lawyer’s role is research. However, that’s about
to change as there are now two tools which look set to shake up the status quo
in the legal industry. The first is Casetext, which contains a
programme called Cara that finds relevant case law files for lawyers who upload
legal documents, allowing them to get the exact
cases they need. And the second is Ravel Law, which gives lawyers
insights into how judges have ruled on previous cases, allowing professionals
to tailor their preparations ahead of their cases, both of which can
potentially save you a huge amount of time.
Work/life balance
Don’t laugh, it is possible to achieve a work/life balance
when working in the legal sector. Obviously, a lot of the pressure is out of
your hands, however creating boundaries is an effective way of regaining
control. By using Google Voice to separate your phone lines – for free – you can
set up a separate number for your firm on your mobile and restrict its hours,
meaning the days of late night calls will be a thing of the past. It also means
that clients can call or text you without reaching you on your personal number
or pursuing you when you’re busy. You can even read transcribed voicemails and
text messages when you’re in court and, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s also
an automatic timing function so you can bill clients accordingly.
Ignore the reports, technology is here to help make our jobs easier, rather than stealing them from us. If you’d like to
speak to our expert team about their favourite tech tools for lawyers then get
in touch now.
What are your favourite tech tools for lawyers?
Check out some of our other blogs on the impact of
technology on the legal profession. And if you're looking for a career move, take a look at our current jobs.