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The Top Tech Trends of 2023 (and How You Can Use Them in 2024)
The end of the year tends to go one of two ways: you either feel nostalgic or really ready to move on to the next year with a clean slate.
A tech trends round-up gives you the best of both worlds: time to reflect on changes in the legal industry over the past year and food for thought on how to use these trends to gain a competitive edge in 2024.
These trends may have hit the headlines in 2023, but they won’t fade away anytime soon.
Five tech trends to pay attention to
2023 was the year of “work smarter, not harder.”
That’s not to say we stopped working harder. Instead, we saw a technological revolution primed to help us work smarter and harder. Think of Ford’s first assembly line in 1913. It completely revolutionized the automotive industry and every other production industry.
In 2023, AI was a bit like that assembly line. So, let’s start there.
1. Artificial Intelligence that works for you
If you had a nickel for every time someone talked about AI… well, you wouldn’t have to work ever again.
ChatGPT was released to the public at the end of 2022, but it took the business world by storm in 2023.
Understandably, many lawyers are cautious about ChatGPT and other AI tools. But when used responsibly, AI has the power to transform workflows in any type of business, especially law firms that want to maximize their productivity and billable hours.
With AI,law firms can automate many of the repetitive, administrative tasks that take away from the more high-level tasks that client case matters require, including:
- Drafting client intake document templates
- Creating email drafts
- Generating ideas for social media posts
- Brainstorming blog topics
- Prepping for important meetings
Basically, it can help create the rough draft of communications, after which you just need to swoop in and edit for accuracy, voice, and style—the stuff that builds trust with your audience.
Many firms are (understandably) cautious about AI due to security concerns. For firms looking to harness generative AI, minus the security risk, legal software with built-in AI integrations is a good solution. This software can deliver the benefits of AI tools without added security risks: streamlined operations and protection from liability.
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Want to see a healthier cash flow and happier clients? Start accepting payments online! On your quest for the right payment processor, look for features that streamline and support the way law firms operate.
2. Document automation
Accurate documents are critical to client case matters. However, creating documents from scratch for every client intake is a tedious, inefficient, and error-prone process. (It’s also, honestly, probably not why you went to law school.)
This process is changing thanks to increasingly effective document automation. Whether it’s digitizing old documents, organizing an existing document filing structure, or creating documents in seconds, document automation saves law firms a lot of time and headaches.
Bring document automation into 2024 with a practice management tool that integrates document automation with your client database. With an integrated document automation tool, firms can:
- Create document templates for client intake and other common processes
- Pull client data automatically from your system to build personalized documents
- Share documents with clients quickly and securely
- Access files from anywhere
3. Cloud computing
In 2023, more than any other time, we saw the rise of cloud computing to provide every possible service a law firm could need.
Document automation? Check.
Legal CRM? Check.
Online payment portal? Check.
eSignature? Check.
File-sharing? Check.
Time tracking? Check.
But be careful—software programs can be a bit like TV subscription services. You can end up paying for platforms you don’t really use or need, and then all of a sudden, you’re paying way too much for too little ROI.
You don’t need to pay one company for a CRM, another company for your website, another company for your online payment portal, and another company for your billing system, only to constantly be switching between systems.
To use cloud computing to your advantage in 2024, look for platforms that provide the tools you need within one system. A fully integrated legal practice management suite creates a powerful single source of truth for your law firm, easing the challenges of managing client information, matters, and operations.
4. Cybersecurity
The digital ecosystem can be a double-edged sword. Yes, it provides amazing tools to help you work faster and grow your firm. But there are also bad actors out there, and cybersecurity is becoming a top concern for law firms everywhere.
Just consider that in 2022, the average cost of a data breach was upwards of $4 million. Up to 42% of law firms with up to 100 employees have experienced a data breach, but small law firms are equally at risk. In fact, smaller businesses in general can be preferred targets for hackers, as they pose easier targets.
Beyond the immediate price tag of a security breach, though, law firms face compliance obligations for protecting data, which can be equally damaging in the long run.
The American Bar Association (ABA)’s Rule 1.6 states that, “A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client.”
That rule may be decades old, but it applies just as much to client information held in a database as it does to a file cabinet.
Additionally, the ABA issued Formal Opinion 483, which outlines requirements for managing security. These requirements include obligations to:
- Take adequate security measures to prevent breaches
- Monitor their systems for threats
- Take reasonable measures to stop any breach that may occur
- Provide notice of a breach to clients
In 2024, avoid software that opens your firm up to added liability. Look for tools with robust security and protection, like end-to-end encryption. Not only does this protect your firm, but it also helps to build trust with your clients, who can rest easy knowing that their sensitive data is in good hands.
5. Digital marketing with SEO
In 2023, digital marketing continued to be critical for any law firm looking to grow. The average person spends 6 hours a day online, which means that if a law firm wants to find new clients, their online presence has to be on point.
But even though digital marketing is a business imperative, it can also be a heavy lift for law firms. It requires a specialized skill set, and even if you have a marketing team at your practice, they may lack expertise in certain areas.
Take web design. Building a modern, attractive website can take months of intricate work; even then, you may end up with something that doesn’t work for your audience. And the website’s just part of it! You need SEO, web content, and more to help it rank on search engines.
In 2024, create an SEO-optimized website by working with an expert third party who knows what law firms need to succeed. Rocket Matter Websites provides a complete turnkey solution, producing a legal website featuring a sleek design, SEO optimization, and all the tools your clients need to get in touch. Best of all, you can get an on-brand website in just a few weeks.
Launch your practice to new heights in 2024
Stay ahead of the curve with the tools designed to help law firms succeed. Rocket Matter provides the tools and technology you need to increase productivity, grow your firm, and attract ideal clients.
Schedule a demo today to see how 2024 could be your firm’s best year yet!
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