7 signs your law firm’s technology is outdated

In this day and age, it's impossible to run a successful law firm without technology. This is especially true when it comes to law firms and the software they use to run their business. The pace of technological innovation will only continue accelerating in the years to come. 

As such, now is a great time for law firms of all sizes to seriously evaluate their technology strategy and see where their current setup could be improved. If your firm doesn’t have the most up-to-date software, you might be putting your company at risk for cybercrime, information breaches, or other threats. 

Slow connection speeds

If your internet connection is too slow, employees may find that it takes longer for them to get their work done. This could lead to frustration and lost productivity. A recent survey found that 77% of employees reported they were frustrated to work with outdated technology, resulting in increased dissatisfaction and lowered productivity.

It could also mean that your law firm is not fully leveraging the power of cloud computing, which allows you to store data remotely (rather than on your own servers).

You could also be at increased risk for cybercrime if your internet speed is too slow. 

Outdated security

Security threats are always changing, and that’s why it’s important to have software that can be easily updated as new threats emerge. If your law firm’s security is too outdated, you could be at greater risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks. 

An outdated operating system will give you trouble installing new software, and if it’s your software that’s too old, you may also be missing out on important security features, such as two-factor authentication. 

All this can make it harder for employees to access their work and could put your data at risk.

Computer crashes

A computer or network that crashes frequently is a big problem for any business. Constant outages mean lost data, reduced productivity, unhappy clients, and more money spent on computer repairs.

Updating your systems and tech will ensure that you're using the latest software, hardware, and networking capabilities. It can also help protect against malware and other cyber-attacks.

Hardware can’t be upgraded

If your hardware can’t be upgraded, you will miss out on new technologies that can help your law firm run improve efficiency and save costs.

For example, if your firm uses outdated servers, you cannot take advantage of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and machine learning (ML). These and other tools will not work correctly on outdated servers. 

processes are paper-based

Paper-based systems can be a major source of inefficiency, not just for lawyers, but also for your firm's clients. The time and money that must be spent to manage paper is significant. Moreover, the increased risk of error is clearly evident. If a paper-based system is not updated, it risks becoming outdated and inefficient. You may also struggle to keep track of important data. 

Using paper documents also means you're spending more time processing them than working on cases or communicating with clients. Plus, the longer you keep your business records on paper, the harder it is to find them when you need them.

Clients are complaining

If your clients are waiting longer than desired for responses to their requests, it could be related to slow internal processes, inefficient operating systems, or even lost documents or data. This may be due to anything from not being able to quickly find important documents, or having to wait for employees to manually create reports.

An outdated IT environment will lead to serious dissatisfaction and a loss of trust among your clients; it will make your firm come across as unprofessional and unreliable. Ineffective communication costs companies an average of $420,000 per year; losing clients will seriously impact your firm’s bottom line and reputation. 

No backup or disaster recovery plans

It’s important to have a disaster recovery plan, so you know what will happen if your data is lost or stolen. Without a backup or disaster recovery plan in place, you may not be able to recover data if it’s lost or stolen. This could lead to your firm losing critical data, which will lead to serious financial or legal consequences.

Likewise, backups are critical in any business operation, but especially so in law firms. From the moment your computer is turned on, it’s constantly working to store and process data. If something goes wrong, such as an electrical outage, a cyber-attack, or a user error, you need to know your all data is safely backed up and available.

Upgrade your firm’s technology with expert help

Your law firm's IT infrastructure is one of the most important elements in maintaining a successful practice. Without a proper IT setup, you'll be at a huge disadvantage to firms that are using modern technology to stay on top of their business.

The IT experts at Essential Tech specialise in providing IT services for law firms. Contact them today about upgrading your technology and ensure your business continues to grow successfully.