How to Stay Competitive as a Lawyer in Today’s Tech Landscape

In today’s legal arena, the words “current” and “competitive” should be used interchangeably with one another. The reason for this is that in order for small- and medium-sized law firms to compete against bigger firms, or for Big Law to contend against other Big Law establishments in today’s market, having an office that is technologically savvy is absolutely essential.

Whether you’re looking to level the playing field or surpass the competition, utilizing legal technology is the way to ensure your law firm is getting more done, and more efficiently, without adding to the payroll. And with pre-packaged, productized legal services on the rise, the cost reductions for potential clients that come as a result of having a more focused and resourceful firm will undoubtedly begin to carve away clients from the one-size-fits-all law commoditization industry.

Yet, beyond legal technology lies a vast world of other technological tools and methods that can ultimately set you apart as a legal professional and give you a competitive advantage in the courtroom. Here are a few suggestions from Abacus to assist you on your tech journey.

Use Google on Every Case

It might seem obvious to an attorney who’s already tech-conscious, but there are still plenty of professionals who overlook the practice of using Google searches both before and during legal cases. Speaking to the San Francisco Bar Association, Megan Zavieh, who specializes in defending attorneys being investigated in California, says of this practice, “Lawyers are no longer safe ignoring potentially-discoverable information online.”

The advantages of using Google searches for broadening your view of a case can be monumental. Between jurors searching for (sometimes erroneous) information online about a case they’re on, or using social media to speak about a case that could affect their ability to serve, you could potentially uncover a lot of material that could help you polish up your questions and arguments.

Demonstrate Your Case Using Technology

Though the court itself may be utilizing traditional modes of sharing information – e.g. printed documents still being submitted – you as an attorney and law firm don’t have to necessarily follow suit. An extremely effective way to get your argument across to jurors or the judge on a case is by creating timelines, charts and maps with easy-to-use software programs such as PowerPoint or other comparable applications.

Most of these programs offer a suite of interactive elements that can really add some vitality, and credibility, to your client’s case if they’re applied properly. And with this type of communication being so prevalent on the internet and elsewhere, your visual presentation will absolutely enhance any facts you’re providing orally as well as in writing.

To back up this claim, a judge presiding over a case in Nevada in 2013 remarked, “I think members of a jury, most likely, are going to respect a more high-tech approach. I think they will connect with it. … [It] is more than necessary in today’s modern climate [and] I think the judiciary should encourage this type of professional, high-caliber type of presentation.”

Make Yourself More Accessible

Whether your agree or disagree with society’s trend towards instant gratification in regards to communication, clients these days are having a much higher expectation of being able to get in touch with their attorneys on a frequent basis. This necessarily leads to the mobile lawyer, who not only carries their smartphone with them for phone calls and messaging, but also includes everything they have back at the office in terms of documents and information.

At the present time, all the files you’ll need as an attorney are available at the push of a button on your smartphone or tablet wherever there’s an internet connection accessible if you’re using a premier case management software. So when clients call for updates on their case or you need to reference a document when speaking with another attorney, everything you need is within reach, anytime, anywhere.