LEAP

As far as ideas go, the legal practice management software provider LEAP has had a few but every now and then a really good one comes along. The LEAP Ideas Hub is one of those and is essentially a public forum designed for clients to voice ideas and new features which can then inform the direction of the software development.

The Ideas Hub epitomises community by offering a platform for LEAP users to recommend new features and updates and, ultimately, tailor the software to users’ needs and desires. The Ideas Hub functions as a bolt-on to the LEAP community – an online user manual available to the LEAP users. The LEAP Community already provides a wealth of information and serves as a communication platform for LEAP users to go and reach out for support or read about new products and features.

The Ideas Hub was only started in January 2018 but is already playing a key role in shaping LEAP as the ultimate legal software solution. It really is as simple as thinking of an idea or new feature and then voicing it on the Ideas Hub platform to see how well it’s received and if it is something that can be further developed into a new feature within LEAP.

If you are wondering how exactly the Ideas Hub works – well, it’s really quite simple. Firstly, users can access the Ideas Hub with their LEAP login. Once inside, you have a range of options depending on what it is that you want to do. It may be that you want to browse the range of posts or that you would like to submit your own ideas. It may be that you are requesting a feature that you consider would be a useful addition to the LEAP software. After posting your idea, other users may like or unlike the idea and comment below the post.

You may also see ideas that you think would be a good addition to LEAP and that you would like to support. If this is the case, you simply hit the like button and make your opinion known. It works by way of a voting system in that the more likes that an idea receives, then the more likelihood that it will be developed further into an actual feature. 

The like/unlike system works by accumulating points with 20 points allocated for each vote, whether that is voting for someone else’s idea or someone voting on yours. Then, when an idea reaches around 250 votes, then LEAP will consider ideas for further development.

The Ideas Hub is essentially a transparent system for LEAP users to view, comment and like/unlike suggested ideas. The Ideas Hub uses a ticketing system which helps avoid user requests falling into a black hole and getting lost.

So, now has never been a better time to take control of the legal software that you use by way of the LEAP Ideas Hub. The practice management solution that is tailored to the needs of legal professionals using it.

Step 1: Getting into the cloud

Getting into the cloud is really only the beginning of the paperless journey but an essential step at that. After successfully migrating your data from clunky old vulnerable servers to the shiny new cloud – the benefits and possibilities are quite simply endless. Not only is your law firm’s data security enhanced – take Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) military-grade servers as one example of a robust off-site solution – but it also means that you have entered into a world of online solutions where opportunities are opened up through a range of powerful tools and innovative new software that can enhance your law firm and propel it ahead of the competition and towards continued success through greater efficiency and productivity.

Step 2: Choosing the right practice management software

Once you’re safely aboard the cloud and benefitting from an upscalable virtual infrastructure, you will need an engine room to drive your paperless dream. This is where cloud-based practice management software comes in. By implementing a robust and reliable legal software solution such as LEAP, you can drive your law firm to achieve better efficiencies and integrate seamlessly with the cloud. Of course, it will probably be the case that your practice management software is already coupled with a cloud-based solution which means that you can actually combine both of the first steps to a paperless law firm into one simple step.

Step 3: Implement innovative document management and sharing solutions

In addition to a good practice management solution, your law firm will benefit from software integrations that work with your legal software to achieve better results and make your law firm streamlined and more efficient. There are some excellent options available that allow you to upload documents, share them with your clients and even sync them back to the matters that you may be working on within your practice management system. LawConnect is an excellent example of this. Clients can also upload documents directly through the software which then syncs to the matter that resides within the practice management software. You are able to see if a client has viewed the document and revoke access at any time with certainty, eliminating any security concerns that you may have. All documents are conveniently filed within the corresponding matter. Forms and precedents can also be automated directly from the matter on any connected device.

Step 4: Adopt powerful digital signature technology

Implementing eSignature technology within your law firm from a provider such as DocuSign is another key way to help make your law firm paperless. By taking advantage of this digital signature technology, means that you can obtain client signatures anywhere at anytime. This powerful solution to your legal needs means that your legal transaction need not be interrupted by travel, for example, if you are commuting or visiting clients off site or maybe because you or your clients are taking holidays. Business transactions remain uninterrupted by your geographical positioning and you are able to achieve ultimate efficiency and push your law firm further than ever before. Also, like the other steps before it, eSignature technology ensures that your law firm saves on costs and adds the highest levels of security to your legal processes.

With the UK facing the biggest skills shortage in decades and Brexit threatening the status quo further still,  remote working could just be the key that law firms have been looking for. In fact, remote and flexible working has become more popular than ever for law firms and businesses across the UK. Many studies have shown that remote working allows employees to be more productive and happier and having the choice to either work from the office or remotely gives staff a sense of freedom and wellbeing.

Benefit 1: Widens the net for capturing new talent

By implementing mobile technology within your law firm, it means that you are not restricted by geographical locales, for example, recruiting within a certain radius of your office. The world becomes your oyster by virtue of the technological opportunities available. An employee could be on the other side of the world but by logging into an online portal, they can join the local workforce as if they were physically present in the office.

Remote working also means that at the point of recruiting, employers can cast their net wider to take advantages of more opportunities to scope for talent around the globe and benefit from a larger pool of talent.

Benefit 2: Reduces staff turnover and retains staff

UK employers are facing the threat of increasing staff turnover more than ever before and this is a growing statistic. Fixing the issue completely generally requires extensive audits to identify all the reasons why employees are choosing to leave.

However, one surefire way to increase employee happiness and loyalty is simply by offering remote work opportunities. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), 50% of the UK workforce will be working remotely by 2020

One thing keeping many companies from implementing remote work programs is the worry that such programs simply won’t fit the company’s business model, or that certain tasks cannot possibly be carried out remotely. These beliefs, however, are often based on narrow thinking or misapprehensions about the realistic impact of remote work.

Your employees will want to work remotely because plenty of other people they know will be doing it. If your employees don’t have the option, it is likely that they will look for flexible working opportunities elsewhere. Most positions in most companies can work flexibly to some degree. By trusting your employees, they’ll be more likely to pay you back with loyalty, higher productivity and better performance.

Benefit 3: Enables effortless collaboration  through technology

Online collaboration dates back to the inception of the internet itself. People working on different systems could collaborate on the same projects via the internet and its early incarnations. However, the technology has had its limitations in the past and it’s only really now that technology has enabled  seamless and efficient online collaboration as the software and tools on offer are far more powerful.

Online collaboration also helps to conserve physical space as attendees to converge in a virtual space rather than a physical location where space is at a premium and some firms simply don’t have the resources for everyone to meet at the same time. It often makes sense for a company to hold a meeting online rather than in a physical location in order to get the most effective results in the time given.

While email was once the primary tool for business communication, the array of options on offer now are far more varied and powerful. Law firms can take advantage of software integrations such as LawConnect that enables secure online document management, making collaboration more advanced but easier than it ever was before in secure and safe online environments.