The importance and necessity of innovation for the legal industry

Petro Krasnomovets
By Petro Krasnomovets,
20th januar |
57
legal-innovation

The world does not stand still. All areas of our lives are constantly changing along with it. Innovations allow for growth and improve the quality of services. It changes the work and business process and makes it more modern to withstand the flow of new information and approaches. This also applies to the legal field, which, although it has standardized rules tested over the years, is still subject to rethinking and some improvement.

The legal industry is at a crossroads, and it is necessary to choose where to move: forward with the modern world or backward. Most experts note that today innovation in legislation is needed more than ever. Vast flows of information and the emergence of new laws and data processing methods stimulate lawyers to change to optimize their work and become professionals.

Let’s learn how innovation keeps the legal industry alive and thriving.

What do we mean by legal innovation?

We often see how companies adapt to the market and introduce new services, work methods, etc. So, for example, with Airbnb, we get the opportunity to book accommodation and be sure of the honesty of the homeowner. Streaming services have changed our content consumption, and online stores that process orders in a few minutes and delivery the next day have changed our approach to shopping.

What about the legal field? It seems rigid and in no need of change. However, this is far from the case. Innovations in this area can significantly improve the quality of lawyers’ work and optimize and even automate processes. Of course, to begin with, it is essential to understand what exactly we mean when we talk about innovation. This is not an abstract concept but a fundamentally new look at the work of lawyers.

It is mainly related to introducing new technologies to daily routine work. The legal industry is one of the most stressful areas because professionals must remember many details, such as the rules for processing documents, information about a specific case, the content of messages and phone calls, etc.

Modern technologies allow us to delegate some of this work. Using special services, you can:

  • create documents according to current templates;
  • organize the archive and other documentation, starting convenient access to data;
  • have access to digitized information from other sources, etc.

How can innovation motivate lawyers?

The legal industry has been considered one of the most profitable and prestigious for decades (if not centuries). Everyone knows that the work of a lawyer is challenging but highly paid. However, as statistics show, today’s young people seek money, decent working conditions, a harmonious team, and a healthy, friendly atmosphere within the company.

Therefore, even good specialists who could provide quality assistance to clients leave the industry. Among the reasons they cite instead:

  • the need to work overtime (even additional payment does not cover the disadvantages of excessive work);
  • the reluctance of management to use modern technologies during work;
  • reduction of payment with a simultaneous increase in the volume of work;
  • lack of balance between work and personal life, and the need to be in touch around the clock.

And most of these problems could be solved with the help of technology. An electronic secretary could receive important calls outside of working hours, special applications could store all information and issue it on request without unnecessary bureaucratic procedures, etc.

How does innovation help the legal industry develop?

Most areas are going through a new stage today. This is not only due to the emergence of the latest technologies that completely change the process of managing information, working with customers, etc. People’s thinking is also changing. Young lawyers are noticeably different from those working in this field for several decades. Yes, they only have a little practical experience. However, the new generation sees better how the world is developing, what clients of law firms need, and what should be improved in the firm’s work to stay caught up and retain regular clients.

The entire legal industry requires some rethinking. Why? Because companies that provide legal services are gradually losing their popularity. New firms often hire lawyers for their staff and choose interdisciplinary specialists who can perform various tasks simultaneously, not only protecting the rights of employees and owners of the company.

Therefore, it is worth changing the approach to customer service, introducing innovations, and improving the technological aspect. It is essential to diversify the list of services and recruit employees from other industries to provide comprehensive support and assistance.

We all adapt to the environment we find ourselves in, and the law is no exception. It is necessary to regularly review existing norms and standards to stay caught up. The automation of all processes and the introduction of new technologies into the work of lawyers. Innovations can be a good helper if you approach work with them correctly.