Mobile legal technology: according to the American Bar Association’s (ABA) annual Mobile Technology report, lawyers do use mobile tech. They use it to communicate with colleagues, clients, and other firm-related contacts, they use it to create, review, and present information relevant to their practice, and they use it both in and out of the office. As a consensus, lawyers engage with mobile technology.
But they don’t use it nearly enough as would benefit their practice or firm, and in fact, mobile usage among lawyers has decreased over the years. And while the smartphone remains the favorite mobile tech of the industry (it’s the most used device at 90%), the use of tablet devices barely breaks even at 49% usage. 2015 even saw a 3-5% increase in the number of respondents who marked “seldom” for mobile tech use in nearly every category.
It’s apparent that in an industry that clearly embraces some mobile tech while shunning others, how to optimize the technology present and get firms and lawyers to start using mobile legal technology on a regular basis is imperative. Here are four quick and easy best practices to ensure your firm is using mobile legal technology and how to optimize the technology being used:
- Ensure the Right Devices Are Being Used
While some firms choose to opt-in to a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, that can sometimes lead to the wrong mobile devices being used. Instead, provide your staff with the right devices for the right tasks and create a positive relationship between your employees and mobile legal technology— they will be more open to using mobile tech this way. The ABA’s chart breaks down which activities lawyers prefer to execute on three different types of mobile devices:
For quick and easy tasks, like checking emails and schedules, lawyers prefer smartphones. For more complicated tasks, like document creation, presentations, and time and billing, they prefer a laptop or tablet. Knowing what the biggest bang your employees will get out of which legal mobile tech device they are using will ensure they actually use what is being given to them.
- Narrow It Down for Them
It can be hard to transition an entire firm of tech-resistant or tech-limited employees to legal mobile technology, so compartmentalize their usage and narrow down the functions they will be using mobile technology for. An easy way to start off is by choosing one of the many apps that exist for almost any legal-related function your firm may need.
From searching for information and time-keeping to collaborating with clients and colleagues to doing something as simple as managing a schedule or checking calendars, narrow it down to one application and start your employees from there. Not overwhelming the office will be the foundation to running legal mobile tech smoothly.
- Implement a Trial and Error Period
Give it time. Not everyone is going to take to legal mobile technology from the get-go and not everyone is going to be on an equal playing field in terms of skill level. The more time your firm has to adapt to new technology the more likely it will succeed in using it. Some employees may find mobile tech difficult or overwhelming. Work with them and be patient, and if you start them off small, they will eventually learn to work with the mobile tech as opposed to against it.
Don’t become frustrated if this period is slow, too, because the hastier you are to rush the trial and error period, employees could become unmotivated, discouraged, and prone to reverting back to what they know.
- Create Standards and Procedures
Once your firm has adopted legal mobile tech and adapted to it, set up standards and procedures that will always be in place to make the tech user-friendly. For example, choose a legal case management software that comes with custom document templates and invoicing potential so that all of the work can be done within one program.
Don’t change your software or programs too often to keep daily procedures streamline and try creating procedures for certain mobile tech so that those who are less skilled with using mobile tech will have something to follow.
Conclusion
Legal mobile technology can be an empowering tool—if you know how to use it and how to get your firm to use it successfully. With these four best practices to optimize your mobile legal tech, you might just find that soon enough, your attorneys will be equipped to access firm data and legal research platforms remotely, collaborate with colleagues from any location, share information, and keep in contact through any channel of communication.
Leave a Reply