Is there a profession that hasn’t been impacted by digitalization? There might not be any; it even influences the legal industry. The legal sector is continually developing as a result of the emergence of legal IT solutions. Also, the flexible work patterns spurred fierce competition among lawyers.
Besides that, as the pandemic shook the world, our daily routines and working habits shifted drastically. As a result, several trends originated, the majority of which are relevant to all disciplines. For a legal practice to survive the unpredictability of coming years, these trends must be acknowledged and taken advantage of.
Do you want to learn about such trends? Then let me help you with that. The following trends are expected to significantly impact the future of the legal practice regardless of the specialization. In other words, whether one is a divorce attorney, a personal injury attorney, criminal attorney, civil lawyer, or anything else, these trends must be understood and embraced by all to succeed.
Client-centric approach
Just like in any other field, here too, firms who put effort into enhancing the client service will prosper. As the saying goes, “Customer Is the King,” and the same is applicable here. However, today is about providing the best experience, a customized package, and a merit service. Here’s a sneak peek at how attorneys and legal companies are adjusting to this mindset today.
- Making use of legal processing management
- Creating a structured process
- Using varying fee structures
- Providing value-added services
- Being completely honest
- Embracing technologies
- Adapting Artificial Intelligence
Several legal practitioners worldwide are attempting to cut expenses while ensuring quality isn’t compromised and client-centered services are delivered. These efforts are not in waste, as not only long-term clients are scored, but new clients are as well, thanks to peer-to-peer referrals.
The latest technologies
Do you have any idea who will hit a major milestone shortly? Legal professionals will make the right and optimum use of technology and digital tools. Wait, there’s a correction: not only lawyers, but even non-lawyers may reclaim control of the legal world if they access technology correctly. Professionals have no choice but to invest in digitalization if they want to save money, be more efficient, and prevail. The illustration below shows how legal practitioners are exploiting innovative technologies.
- Offering client service anywhere anytime thanks to the bots
- Allowing AI to perform all the legal tasks from research to drafting and in between everything
- Replacing labor via machine learning
- Using AR/VR to train freshers, pitch clients, and also communicate in the courtroom
Freelancing and non-lawyer acceptance
To speed up the less critical legal processes and focus more on key business operations, law firms are now turning to freelancers, temporary, contract, or internship-based employees for assistance. This sort of outsourcing has proven to be helpful in terms of cost reduction, service expansion, and improved performance.
Additionally, non-legal employment is not confined to IT personnel but has extended to higher executive positions. All of this is feasible due to advancements in technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud services, virtual assistants, and so on, which have restructured the legal sector.
Specialization
In this context, the phrase “Jack of All Trades, Master of None” fits well. Gone are days when lawyers and law firms were in power to offer every legal service to every section of society. With fluctuating federal laws and growing challenges in specific sectors, it is nearly difficult for one individual or a small size company to perfect every sort of legal subject in the modern world. And because large companies are expensive, clients are hesitant to approach them, but they readily hire the services of specialized attorneys.
As a result, professionals who have expertise in a single area have a competitive advantage over those who provide various services but of inferior quality. As experts in the industry, they quickly realize the client’s requirements, after which they create a unique deal for value-added services.
Non-discrimination and involvement
Today, legal companies that recruit only top applicants while ignoring the talents of the lower strata of society are regarded as unethical and unjust. Similarly, professionals who only fight for the upper class and refuse to speak up for clients from the poorer or disadvantaged parts of society are considered discriminatory. After all, what is the use of years of legal study and experience when they do injustice to others?
However, recent protests in the United States against racism and police abuse have opened many people’s eyes and awakened the corrupt section of society. Law companies have begun to welcome diversity and inclusion and stand up for those who are discriminated against. To be blunt, only such legal firms and experts will be able to stand tall and fearless in the following years.
These are the trends that every legal institution and practitioner should be aware of. Otherwise, they won’t notice and will be kicked out of the cat race, risking their livelihood.
