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Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the concept of a role that offered full or hybrid remote working was rare – seen as more of a lifestyle choice that would only work in certain fields and definitely too difficult for the demands of the legal profession. Now, legal professionals are increasingly working remotely, made possible by today’s technology-supported legal sphere and a greater openness to working this way.
According to survey data collected for Clio’s recent Legal Trends Report, 81% of law firms are currently enabling remote working for both staff and clients, with 71% actually prioritising remote interaction over in-person.
The pandemic has massively altered the way that we all can, and want, to connect and communicate with each other. As consumer expectations have rapidly shifted to focus on ease of communication and instant access to customer support, firms need to be adopting tech throughout their business in order to keep up.
In research carried out for the Legal Trends Report in 2021, 79% of respondents said they were open to the idea of working with a lawyer remotely and that this would positively influence on their decision when choosing a lawyer. By introducing the right technology to facilitate the ease of communication, law firms can open up their client pool. Technology also enables firms to cast their hiring net wider, allowing them to access wider talent pools than just that in their immediate vicinity and target broader geographical markets to attract and retain the best talent countrywide rather than just those who live in their area.
With access to a larger talent pool of lawyers, this also means that firms have to do more in order to retain the best talent – technology can play a big part in this. By introducing market-leading legal technology, firms can free up lawyers’ time spent on administrative, time-consuming tasks. Legal practitioners can individually work on cases they are particularly interested in as well as giving them more time to focus on achieving the greatest results possible for existing clients, drumming up new business or taking on additional pro-bono work where possible.
In addition to this, increased remote working has led to a realisation amongst lawyers that a greater work-life balance and schedule flexibility is possible. This means that legal professionals that favour this are not willing to stay at firms that value presenteeism over ensuring the wellbeing of their firm employees. According to a report from legal employment agency, Realm Recruitment, flexibility has overtaken pay as the number one priority for lawyers with 51% of people describing it as “very important”. This is another factor that is contributing towards the ‘Great Resignation’ with individuals seeking increased flexibility from their employer and moving roles in order to ensure they get it.
In my opinion, it is clear how legal technology can help practitioners offer exceptional service and also to positively grow and develop their business. Being able to help to free up the time of lawyers and allow them to work on more cases that they find more meaningful, will not only increase chances of keeping these lawyers at the firm but it will create a happier workforce, who are more invested, mentally and physically, in the work they are doing.
