Adoption of legal technology is on the rise and legal professionals are using legal practice management software to enhance the productivity of their practices. Not only because of more individuals working from home, but advancements in technology overall have contributed to the legal industry embracing technology in the workplace.

Thanks to tight timelines and a never-ending supply of sensitive information, the legal industry relies more on a dependable IT support structure than many other sectors. Moreover, as a law firm grows, its IT needs often evolve beyond what the current provider can fulfill.

Law firms are common targets of cyberattacks due to the sensitive information they obtain and store and their slow adoption of cybersecurity policies.

Due to recent events, most law firm employees and employers are re-evaluating their current positions and work environments. Overall, law firms have weathered the COVID storm better than originally expected.

Law firms that don’t adapt and, as a result, miss opportunities for growth, risk being overtaken by agile competitors who are more willing to embrace change. According to Forbes, research has shown that 38 percent of people enjoy leaving their comfort zone, while the other 62 percent don’t like to leave their comfort zone or rarely do so.

As a lawyer or legal professional, you are well aware of the pressure to stay productive in order to tackle the never-ending tasks that seem to grow with each passing day. David Allen discusses what it means to be productive without being in a constant state of stress in his New York Times Bestselling Book Getting Things Done.

In today’s workplace, 65% of employees are looking for another job. To compete for the best employees, employers must remain current, providing a quality, forward-thinking work environment which includes hybrid work options. Prior to the pandemic, law firms allowed only exempt employees (lawyers and professionals) to work remotely, and then only occasionally.

Most lawyers have multiple clients, and many will work in more than one firm throughout their careers. These circumstances dramatically increase the possibility of conflicts of interest between former and new clients.

All organizations – particularly those that outsource crucial business operations to third-party technology businesses and SaaS companies – must ensure that their data is handled properly, protecting customers from data theft, extortion, and malware attacks. Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) provides a framework to help stakeholders ensure that vendors protect the interests of the company they serve and the personal data of vulnerable clients.