Business Applications

Law firms are investing in applications to help automate key processes and manage information. The priority for investment is CRM (46%), HR (43%), Practice Management (39%) and Document Management (39%).

Legal firms will also need to shift from standalone applications to creating end-to-end digital platforms that support the entire workflow from start to end. They will need partners to help them re-platform applications or to create an API environment to surround legacy applications to allow modern digital platforms to be introduced.

They have four paths they can follow to build their digital applications and platforms; develop it themselves, extend existing software, partner with an LawTech or exploit the cloud platforms. 

Compute & Cloud

By their very nature digital platforms leverage hyperscale infrastructure from cloud providers in computing, data storage and security to deliver scale, reliability and customer experience. Legal companies were slow to adopt cloud, but adoption propelled by the implications of the COVID-19 response is now growing fast.

Given the level of security needed it is likely that a hybrid cloud environment will be needed in larger businesses. Law firms will need skills (or partners) to operate an environment that not only manages the cloud infrastructure but allows the ease of moving workloads to and from the cloud.

Digital Workplace

Organisations must now provide a digitally enabled, flexible and collaborative working experience to attract and retain staff. They must also move beyond the fast reactions required to achieve a lockdown.  75% of law firm leaders are in the process of repurposing shared work spaces, with most expecting two to be the average number of days per week their staff would be in the office.

A modern collaborative digital workplace is critical to a remotely located workforce. It ranges from access to HR applications and core business applications to e-mail, instant messaging and enterprise social media tools and virtual meeting tools.

Security, Compliance & Data Privacy

Law firms are an attractive target as they hold sensitive client information, handle significant funds and are a key enabler in commercial and business transactions. The risk may be greater for law firms that advise particularly sensitive clients or work in locations that are hostile to the UK. For example, firms acting for organisations such as Life Sciences or the energy sector may also be targeted by groups with a political or ideological agenda.

The financial and reputational impact of cyberattacks on law firms is also significant. The costs arise from the attack itself, the remediation and repairing reputational damage by regaining public trust.  Security, especially with data breaches, malware and ransomware, is high priority issue.  Customers will expect a legal services firm to operate at a very high level of security and privacy to protect customer confidential information, funds and IPR. Remote working, cloud and all open up new attack surfaces and potential for security breaches.