How to modernise your law firm
There are six core phases to manage change and drive more innovation in law firms today with technology
Change is inevitable in the legal industry, and for law firms to stay competitive and keep up with changing client demands, they will need to modernise their practice with technology like a cloud-based case management platform. However, this doesn’t happen overnight. It can be challenging to know where to start, what technology to bring in, and how to manage this change within your firm. Here are six phases your firm can follow to embrace the future through successful technology implementation.
Getting started
First, focus on defining your vision and setting a clear end goal. Determine your pain points and inefficiencies, how you currently operate and want to work, and how you hope your technology will help you get there. You should also build a strong project team to progress this initiative and define how they will operate together throughout the implementation process. These key principles will guide firms in staying on track to deliver the value you want and outcomes desired.
Choose the right technology for your firm
Choosing the right technology solution for a law firm is a major decision that requires careful consideration on several fronts. In phase two, you will interview and select the ideal technology solution that aligns with your firm’s unique requirements. This is also the stage at which you’ll explore the significance of specialist implementation partners, setting clear expectations and establishing meaningful connections with customer success.
Embracing data clean-up and migration
Phase three is all about bringing order to your firm’s data. This is an important step that centres on meticulous data management before migrating to your new system. Having clean data helps to ensure as effortless as possible a transition to your new system.
Designing and connecting workflows
Next, you’ll explore the key components of successful workflows, assess current operations, define user types, and lay the foundation for effective user testing. It’s important to note that you don’t need to set this all at once. Start with critical and simple processes, and then add automation or functionality to workflows as your team becomes more familiar with the technology.
Training teams and preparing for go-live
In Phase five, you’ll prepare your team for the exciting transition to your new software. This is a critical stage that encompasses comprehensive training, change management strategies, and establishing support systems to ensure a successful implementation and adoption of your new technology.
Empower ongoing use and nurture success post-implementation
In the final phase, you’ll shift your focus from pre-implementation to post-implementation activities that involve gathering feedback, nurturing success, and continuously improving workflows and templates. This is an opportune time to set expectations for ongoing engagement and guidance from your provider, explore the resources available for customer success and support, and revisit your firm’s original goals to ensure they’re being met.
Unlock your firm’s potential with successful technology implementation
By investing in robust legal technology, such as Actionstep, professionals are equipping their firm with a powerful tool that can help their teams to work efficiently, delight clients, improve profitability, and grow their business.
Ready to embark on the first phase of modernising your law firm? Download our step-by-step guide to managing change and driving innovation using technology here.
