THE FUTURE
Clients are evaluating firms more:
"There will be two types of firms in the future. Those firms which look to their clients and try to identify their clients' needs and respond to them, and those firms that do not.
Corporations require law firms to provide services in a more cost effective way. Technology will assist forward thinking law firms in accomplishing that goal of customer satisfaction.
Those firms that adapt technology, including, and especially a collaborative information sharing utility, should be more successful in the marketplace.
Those firms that do not will find themselves with clients who are dissatisfied, who are paying more than they feel they are getting value for, and will find the ability to retain clients, more difficult."
Linking Electronically
Use of electronic links to bring together legal teams has major implications for case co-ordination, and client/lawyer relations.
To date, there has been too much duplicated effort within law firms and even teams working on the same case because there has been no co-ordinating communication. A bulletin board system would help prevent such waste.
Most importantly, it brings clients back into the decision making process.
Innovation v Automation
"The greatest singular asset of these tools is that it allows you not only to automate workflow and practices with your client but truly innovate, and innovate in a way that law firms aren't used to thinking about.
Once you can essentially bring your client in virtual reality into your office, you can begin not only do things differently, but you can stop doing things that are inefficient. Those things include trading numerous telephone messages; those things include obviating the necessity for long analytical report letters."
