How Software Can Make Your Law Firm Efficient

Computers and technology are transforming our lives – but perhaps nowhere more so than in the workplace. During the recent Coronavirus pandemic, the world was forced into home-working, further revealing our growing dependence on modern tech and giving an intriguing insight into how the future of employment might look.

Integrating software and apps into your work routine can have a dramatic effect on communication between your employees, while also improving their productivity and general sense of well-being. These days, modern tech is so advanced that it’s now able to autonomously perform many of the onerous, repetitive tasks employees have to perform every day. Introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation to your legal firm can bring significant benefits and make your company work more efficiently and productively. 

These days, there is a huge range of workplace apps and software available that will dramatically reduce the workload of your legal firm. Indeed, many apps have been specifically developed specifically for legal practices just like yours. Companies like redbricksolutions.co.uk offer a wide range of legal software, from case management solutions to applications designed to improve business intelligence.

Here are just a few ways the use of software can make your legal firm more efficient. 

For many tasks, computers are simply more capable than humans

When it comes to repetitive chores, computers are almost always more efficient and work more precisely than humans. While people often get bored doing the same task over and over (and hence, start making mistakes), computers can churn through monotonous tasks with 100% accuracy. 

So long as you’ve programmed your system to perform correctly, a computer will pretty much always work more proficiently than a human. For example, if you find yourself repetitively writing similar documents for your clients (as is common in the legal industry), using intelligent software to edit precedents will save you considerable time, and make your work more accurate.

Integrating software into your workplace will save you money

While you will have to make an initial investment in software, its ongoing operating costs will be considerably lower than employing a human to do the same work. In the main, computers and software only need occasional maintenance or updates as compared to humans who need breaks, holidays, healthcare or other associated work benefits. 

By comparison, software will work 24/7/365 without complaints or disputes and the need for work breaks. Computers also don’t get distracted the way humans do – making them perfect for long-haul or tiresome tasks. 

Software will save you time and free up resources

Rather than wasting your precious time (or that of your employees) on arduous tasks, setting a computer to do the work will help you free up your time. Your employees will be able to focus better on their key tasks rather than being distracted with profitless, tiresome admin chores. 

There are now numerous administrative apps that can improve the productiveness of your time ranging from calendar apps to arrange and schedule meetings to automatic assistants that help you write better. 

Indeed, the new version of Microsoft Word included with the rebadged Microsoft 365 (previously MS Office) ships with an in-built helper called Microsoft Editor that automatically scans your document for errors and makes editing suggestions to improve your prose. 

Software can be built for purpose

Rather like training an employee to perform a specific role, bespoke software can also be exclusively designed for certain purposes or tasks. Engaging the skills of a software development company will enable you to implement apps into your working processes to considerably improve your company’s performance and reduce your overhead.

Apps save money on paper and errors through bad handwriting

A surprising amount of smaller companies still rely on traditional pen and paper in their business, incurring hefty stationery charges and often resulting in errors being made through bad handwriting. 

Taking a paper-based approach to your work isn’t just costly and inefficient – it also results in storage problems further down the line. Also, paper documents require setting up an efficient filing system – and, even then, when you’re looking for information, you’ll have to perform a manual search to find it. 

Instead, using computers and software, you can drastically reduce your paper usage and make storage considerably more efficient. When you consider a typical Microsoft Word document containing 500 words only takes up approximately 20Kb of storage – and the majority of computers these days ship with hard-drives in excess of 500Gb – you can store a vast amount of information produced with software far more efficiently. 

Moreover, computers can do a drive-wide search of documents in seconds, giving you direct access to the information you need, as you need it. 

Using software allows for collaborative working

Pretty much all companies rely on team-work to some level or other. Using software can enable your employees to work collaboratively on tasks, logging changes or additions in real-time. Project management apps let your team keep on top of tasks, identifying their particular responsibilities and highlighting when further input is needed. 

Software makes home-working a realistic prospect

As mentioned, the recent Coronavirus pandemic forced many companies to adopt remote-working for their staff to still perform their roles. Indeed, there was a huge explosion in the use of remote-working apps through COVID-19 – to the point that many experts suggest we will possibly never go back to the traditional nine-to-five, office-based style of work. 

Having your employees work from home (at least of the some of the time) can bring substantial cost savings in utility bills and your rent and rates costs. Moreover, many employees reported being more industrious, happier and efficient working from home. There is substantial evidence to support the idea that happier workers are more productive – meaning you’ll get more for your money out of a more content workforce.

In summary

Investing in software may seem daunting at first, but the advantages will soon become clear as you learn to automate more and more of your legal processes and paperwork. There is a huge range of case management software available which will streamline the way you and your team approach cases and increase your overall productivity. 

Furthermore, by employing specific legal software, you’ll be able to avoid many of the repetitive tasks you and your team perform on a daily basis, allowing you to concentrate on the more profitable sides of your business. 

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