Top Tech Tools for Lawyers in 2024

What are the highest instruments for attorneys in 2024? In immediately’s rapidly-evolving authorized know-how panorama, there’s an abundance of tech instruments obtainable to assist set regulation corporations up for fulfillment.

From the rise of generative synthetic intelligence (AI) instruments to cloud-based choices that enable attorneys to function extra effectively whereas working remotely, many corporations are adopting extra know-how proper now. Nevertheless, it may be difficult to maintain up with the most recent choices to seek out the instruments that greatest suit your agency’s wants.

On this put up, we’ll cowl the highest instruments for attorneys primarily based on knowledge from trade reviews and tendencies we’ve noticed within the authorized occupation. By understanding what lawyer instruments and tools different authorized professionals are utilizing, you possibly can determine what your agency can use to assist it function as successfully as attainable. 

What instruments do attorneys use?

Probably the most profitable regulation corporations immediately use an array of know-how instruments to work extra effectively and securely in an more and more distant office. Whereas every regulation agency’s optimum tech stack is dependent upon elements like agency measurement and apply space, it’s a very good guess to begin with the fundamentals, then add in tech instruments to fill gaps, improve productiveness, and higher serve your particular consumer base. For instance, authorized apply administration software program is a necessary place to begin for many trendy regulation corporations (extra on that under).

Let’s have a look at the important thing kinds of instruments for attorneys that thriving corporations are utilizing immediately.

Learn to work remotely as a lawyer and ensure your purchasers proceed to obtain nice authorized service.

AI instruments

The latest rise of AI know-how has already unlocked outstanding alternatives (and moral issues) for regulation corporations. As such, increasingly attorneys are focused on adopting AI instruments to assist their practices run extra effectively, with 19% of attorneys already utilizing AI (in some kind) of their practices and 32% of attorneys agreeing that AI can assist cut back workloads, in response to the 2023 Authorized Tendencies Report.

Whereas the vary of AI instruments for attorneys is quickly rising, the most well-liked and extremely anticipated AI choices can increase regulation agency effectivity and enhance productiveness by automating most of the routine and repetitive—although essential—duties that might in any other case drain the time of attorneys and authorized professionals. 

For instance, Clio Duo will convey the ability of generative AI authorized know-how to Clio’s authorized software program instruments, starting with Clio Handle, in 2024. Clio Duo’s proprietary generative AI tech will function a coach, intuitive collaborator, and professional guide for authorized professionals, giving customers:

Customized suggestions to reinforce effectivity
Reminders for pending and overdue duties
Invoice era help 
Doc summarization and era (for easy paperwork)
Matter overviews
Insights into regulation agency enterprise efficiency

On-line file storage

Whether or not you’re working remotely or simply need handy, streamlined entry to paperwork to work and collaborate from anyplace, on-line file storage instruments for attorneys are key. They’re additionally extremely widespread, with 79% of attorneys noting within the 2020 Authorized Tendencies Report that they depend on cloud know-how to retailer their agency’s knowledge. Search for on-line file storage instruments which can be cloud-based, safe, and simple to make use of.

Dropbox—one of many world’s hottest doc storage apps—is probably going your first possibility for on-line file storage. In reality, in response to the American Bar Affiliation’s 2022 Authorized Expertise Survey Report, Dropbox was the most well-liked cloud service—with 66% of survey respondents indicating that they had been Dropbox customers. 

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Phrase processors

As a lawyer, a phrase processor is a necessity for drafting paperwork and letters. However, to take your doc and letter drafting up a notch, we suggest utilizing a cloud-based phrase processor that permits you to work and entry your authorized paperwork remotely. 

Microsoft 365 (previously often known as Workplace 365) is a well-liked enterprise software for attorneys that gives phrase processing by way of Phrase, in addition to quite a few different productiveness instruments. Do you know that Microsoft 365 got here in second place for being the most-used cloud-based service for attorneys (at 59%) within the American Bar Affiliation’s 2022 Authorized Expertise Survey Report? This exhibits that cloud-based phrase processing instruments are rapidly turning into an indispensable a part of a lawyer’s arsenal of instruments. Microsoft Workplace 365 additionally connects with Clio Handle for much more streamlined productiveness between instruments.

Scanners

From authorized paperwork to expense receipts, attorneys deal each day with papers that they should simply entry on demand, from anyplace—making the power to digitize paperwork important for attorneys in 2024. This is the reason a scanner (or scanner app performance in your cellphone) is vital. 

For a bodily scanner, this information for selecting a scanner on your regulation agency can assist you decide the correct mannequin. 

If you happen to go the app route, Evernote is an efficient possibility. The app integrates along with your smartphone digicam to empower you to seize (and arrange) notes, recordsdata, and paperwork. 

One other nice scanning software possibility for attorneys? Clio’s Cell App permits you to scan paper paperwork utilizing your cellphone and save them as PDFs to Clio.

VOIP cellphone supplier

Regardless of the place you’re working, it’s essential to be reachable at your small business cellphone quantity. A Voice Over Web Protocol (VOIP) cellphone service (choices like Vonage, Corvum, and GoTo are good selections) permits you to reply cellphone calls remotely by forwarding calls made to your small business line to wherever you’re.

Digital receptionist service

Lacking a name—whether or not as a result of your regulation agency workplace is working remotely otherwise you’re simply away from the cellphone—means misplaced enterprise. 

A digital receptionist service like Ruby (which presents dwell digital reception and chat choices) eliminates unanswered calls. This implies higher service for purchasers (and cuts the price of having a full-time in-house employees member fielding calls).

Doc administration

Paperwork is an inextricable a part of working towards regulation, however coping with paperwork doesn’t should be as tedious or time-consuming because it has been previously. Doc automation instruments for attorneys streamline doc creation (like letters and motions) through the use of the data you’ve already collected (like key dates or contact data) to populate varieties for you. Doc administration instruments then enable you to safely retailer and entry these paperwork.

Authorized apply administration software program like Clio Handle presents a easy, all-in-one answer for coping with authorized paperwork with doc administration and superior authorized doc automation options. Clio Handle permits you to compile paperwork with easy-to-use templates, then retains paperwork safe within the cloud, so you possibly can edit, retailer, and arrange recordsdata as wanted. 

Time monitoring and billing options

Correct time monitoring and billing are key to regulation agency profitability. Nevertheless, spending loads of time manually monitoring time and coping with billing takes away out of your productiveness. 

Utilizing authorized know-how instruments to enhance billing processes may enhance regulation agency collections. In response to the 2023 Authorized Tendencies Report, for instance, regulation corporations utilizing automated invoice reminders collected, on common, 49% extra income every month per lawyer than those who didn’t use automated invoice reminders.   

If you happen to aren’t utilizing lawyer instruments to assist with time and billing, begin by your apply administration software program, which can supply options to cowl this. Clio Handle, for instance, consists of authorized time and expense monitoring and billing options. 

If you happen to aren’t utilizing apply administration software program or just wish to contemplate your choices, you also needs to take a look at our authorized software program listing for our critiques of the highest apply administration software program. 

eDiscovery instruments

Right now, nearly all of discovery is digital, or eDiscovery. Whereas the transfer in direction of extra digital discovery saves time, you can even use tech instruments for attorneys to streamline your discovery course of.

Logikcull’s cloud-based eDiscovery software program, for instance, automates 1000’s of beforehand guide steps (corresponding to Bates Stamping and virus scanning) whereas additionally providing good filtering choices to avoid wasting you effort and time. Plus, it integrates with Clio to mechanically “mirror” your Clio issues into Logikcull.

Be taught extra about conducting eDiscovery successfully at your regulation agency.

Authorized analysis instruments

Excessive-quality authorized analysis is important on your regulation agency’s success. Right now’s instruments put searchable regulation libraries, choices, and different key particulars at your fingertips. This helps you conduct your authorized analysis sooner and extra successfully. 

Fastcase, for instance, has one of many largest on-line regulation libraries on the planet. Utilizing Fastcase, which integrates with Clio, offers you distant entry to paperwork like case regulation, statutes, rules, constitutions, and extra.

Efficient authorized analysis doesn’t should be costly, both. This put up covers a couple of of the highest quality free authorized analysis instruments you will discover immediately.

E-signature instruments

Digital signatures are extra handy to coordinate than bodily signatures, and fewer back-and-forth means much less room for human error. In addition they make authorized work sooner and extra environment friendly for attorneys and purchasers. And, they save paper, which is necessary as extra corporations go paperless. 

Whereas e-signatures don’t work in each occasion, they’re legally binding in lots of conditions, so long as they meet the correct standards. Nevertheless, some states require moist signatures for paperwork like wills.

Authorized know-how can assist make e-signatures simpler and safer. Clio Full, as an illustration, presents simple on-line doc signing instruments as a part of Clio Develop’s consumer consumption and authorized consumer relationship administration (CRM) software program and Clio Handle’s doc administration performance. Clio’s cellular e-signature capabilities additionally empower purchasers to signal authorized paperwork remotely—which suggests a extra user-friendly expertise.

Video conferencing software program

Communication and collaboration are central to a lawyer’s success, however in-person communication isn’t at all times attainable or preferable. In response to the 2021 Authorized Tendencies Report, 58% of shoppers now favor to satisfy nearly with a lawyer for a session or first assembly. Much more (60%) would like standing updates by way of video convention.

Moreover, the 2023 Authorized Tendencies Report signifies that 53% of attorneys in mid-sized corporations using cloud-based LPM software program categorical a desire for distant work over workplace attendance, in distinction to 35% of attorneys in mid-sized corporations who don’t use such software program.

As our information to video conferencing for attorneys explains, the very best video instruments for attorneys needs to be safe, simple to make use of, and clear (in each audio and video high quality). Legaler matches the invoice with encryption utilizing AES-128 keys and easy on-line assembly options.

Cell apps

Cell apps, whether or not they’re designed particularly for attorneys or simply assist a lawyer’s wants, can immediately give your productiveness a lift by permitting you to work from anyplace—a should for 2024. 

A number of of our favourite cellular apps that double as instruments for attorneys? 

iAnnotate. Evaluate and mark up paperwork from anyplace with iAnnotate, which additionally permits you to entry paperwork from a number of sources on-line.
Feedly. Keep knowledgeable on the trade’s trending matters and content material that you just care about with easy-to-consume (and share) content material streams curated by Feedly AI.
Clio’s Cell App. Preserve your regulation agency in your pocket with Clio’s top-rated cellular app. Out there for Apple or Android customers, the cellular app permits you to monitor time, pull up instances and key paperwork, view consumer data, create new issues and contacts, settle for funds, and extra—all out of your cellular machine.

Apply administration software program

Authorized apply administration software program is a necessary software for regulation corporations in 2024, particularly for solo corporations. Clio’s 2023 Authorized Tendencies for Solo Legislation Corporations report famous that cloud-based apply administration software program use was larger for solo attorneys. Particularly, the report discovered that 85% of solos use cloud-based authorized apply administration software program, in comparison with 55% of non-solos.

Throughout the mid-sized market, 79% of purchasers, as per the 2023 Authorized Tendencies for Mid-Sized Legislation Corporations report, expressed a desire for attorneys offering handy cost options. Furthermore, amongst attorneys in these corporations, 53% who make the most of cloud-based authorized apply administration software program lean in direction of distant work, underscoring the rising demand for digital accessibility.

Operating a apply is advanced, and apply administration software program makes managing a agency simpler. Cloud-based apply administration software program like Clio Handle centralizes and streamlines working your agency, organizing instances, and collaborating with purchasers. Clio additionally integrates with many different apps, making it an much more helpful tech software for attorneys.

On-line funds

On-line funds—accepting bank card, debit card, or eCheck funds via a web based platform like Clio Funds—make it simple and extra handy for purchasers to pay, so attorneys can receives a commission sooner.

How a lot faster can accepting on-line funds assist attorneys receives a commission? In response to the 2023 Authorized Tendencies Report, regulation corporations that provide on-line funds receives a commission twice as quick. Particularly, regulation corporations accepting on-line funds waited a median of seven days to receives a commission. As compared, regulation corporations that don’t settle for on-line funds waited a median of 15 days.

Past improved collections for attorneys, instruments that enable regulation corporations to just accept on-line funds profit purchasers by giving them the cost choices they need. As the identical Authorized Tendencies Report notes, 46% of purchasers most favor to make use of a bank card when paying a lawyer.

Shopper portals

Shopper portals like Clio for Purchasers enable attorneys to securely share messages and paperwork with purchasers. Making this data accessible to purchasers helps them keep within the loop on their instances—with much less guide updating from attorneys.

Whereas consumer portals are helpful instruments for attorneys throughout distant work, in addition they supply a manner for attorneys to supply extra client-centered companies. In response to the 2021 Authorized Tendencies Report, 61% of purchasers indicated that they’d prefer to obtain standing updates by way of a safe consumer portal. Equally, 60% of purchasers mentioned they’d prefer to view or share paperwork by way of the consumer portal.

Shopper consumption and CRM

Shopper consumption and CRM options like Clio Develop assist corporations coordinate communications and consumption earlier than a contact turns into a consumer. This permits corporations to create a extra environment friendly and smoother consumption expertise for brand new purchasers by way of the power to care for preliminary duties—like filling out varieties, paying up-front charges, or reserving consultations—on-line.

Because the 2021 Authorized Tendencies Report showcased, consumer consumption and CRM software program go hand in hand with regulation agency development. Notably, the report discovered that rising corporations are 46% extra possible to make use of consumer consumption and CRM options. 

Shopper consumption and CRM options have additionally proved essential for regulation agency development throughout distant work occasions. Because the 2020 Authorized Tendencies Report confirmed, corporations utilizing on-line consumer consumption and CRM options noticed higher year-over-year efficiency in contrast to those who didn’t, each main as much as and throughout the preliminary months of the coronavirus outbreak in 2020. Income-wise, within the first months of 2020, corporations utilizing consumer consumption and CRM options noticed almost double the expansion than different corporations; they then maintained higher annual efficiency throughout the pandemic’s preliminary months and achieved constructive development from June onward that 12 months.

Safety and ethics issues for lawyer instruments

Bear in mind: As with all measure involving regulation agency knowledge, it’s essential to vet any instruments for attorneys that you just’re contemplating for his or her safety earlier than utilizing them. Know (and abide by) your moral and regulatory obligations concerning safety. All the time comply with greatest practices for retaining regulation agency and consumer knowledge safe to make sure that no authorized know-how instruments will do extra hurt than good, together with in the case of AI instruments for attorneys. Utilizing this Cloud Due Diligence Guidelines could also be useful as a begin, but it surely’s your duty to correctly consider any potential instruments on your agency.

Authorized know-how instruments promote regulation agency development

Utilizing the correct instruments for attorneys could make all of the distinction for regulation agency development. Adopting some (or all) of those instruments can assist your regulation agency be extra environment friendly, worthwhile, and client-centered. 

Whereas there are many instruments for attorneys to select from in 2024, that doesn’t imply you can, or ought to, undertake them suddenly. As a substitute, vet every software fastidiously and begin with the necessities. Then, you possibly can add in additional authorized know-how instruments strategically to create a tech stack that helps your agency run extra effectively. And, you possibly can at all times attain out to a guide in the event you need assistance organising a tech stack on your agency. 

No matter instruments you select, make sure that they’re safe, after which watch your agency turn out to be its best, worthwhile, and greatest self this 12 months and past.

We revealed this weblog put up in January 2024. Final up to date: February 1, 2024.

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