What Technology Do Law Firms Use?
Most people realize that lawyers have exceptionally challenging jobs and need to be both highly trained and highly skilled. Key tasks involve compiling large volumes of information that can be used as a basis of evidence when they represent their clients. In addition, a lawyer needs to be an exceptional public speaker who can clearly state facts in a compelling manner during courtroom proceedings to allow the jury to have full and clear information so that justice can be served. A quick mind and the ability to recount previous court precedents that are relevant to the case are also vital qualities for any high-performing lawyer. In 2022, technology is increasingly being used by law firms to streamline the functioning of legal activities and to allow a highly efficient service for every client. This article explores three key pieces of technology that are used by lawyers and law firms so that they can provide exceptional legal representation.
Portable Dictaphones
The vast majority of legal staff will have access to a modern Dictaphone. This is considered a vital piece of technology when dealing with clients. It’s often used to record detailed transcripts of statements provided by the client and key witnesses that will be involved in court proceedings. Lawyers increasingly use such technology to keep a rolling record of their thoughts on specific cases. This can be especially important when out of the office and brainstorming ideas on how to best represent the client. Today, a variety of manufacturers make Dictaphones that are directly aimed at the legal market. Here are some of the best examples of such devices for legal use.
Compact laptops
Whilst lawyers and law firms continue to hold a large quantity of physical documents such as affidavits and other legal paperwork, there is an increasing drive to store records electronically. Compiling key pieces of information and supporting evidence is often done by storing documents on laptops. In a court room setting, the lawyer can pull up vital pieces of information quickly by having electronic files stored on a laptop.
Many lawyers find that a good quality, high-performance laptop such as those found in the range by Lenovo is one of their most important pieces of technology. In addition to compiling documents, a lawyer will use the device to conduct in-depth research for their clients including finding similar court cases to determine what legal precedents have been set.
Scheduling software
Any professional legal firm will deal with a large client base and there is an increasing need to organize and schedule appointments in a clear and coherent manner. The secretarial staff use software systems that allow online calendars to be set up and these will be filled with court and client appointment schedules. The beauty of online calendars is that they form a single point of access and can be viewed remotely by legal teams who may be out of the office. Case files can be attached to online apps that also allow the most pertinent information to be placed in an easily accessible location.
Apps such as Clio are used extensively in the legal world for calendar organization and scheduling meetings. Today, there is a wide range of such software, and the best examples allow seamless teamworking when staff are not present in one location.