Professional indemnity insurance (PII) is mandatory for any solicitor’s practice. The costs are significant and the time expended on various forms can make it a harrowing experience. Firms often complete the proposal form, send it off and wait for the terms, wondering if the costs have risen or if they will struggle to find cover. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Through careful planning and partnership with the right broker, you could not only make the process easier but also save money. Below are a few simple steps to consider when renewing your PII. Start the renewal … [Read more...]
Digitisation of conveyancing: a key opportunity for law firms to innovate
With buying and selling a home still typically taking months to complete, private sector businesses are leading the innovation charge to drive transformation and reform. Conveyancers that resist digital transformation face a challenge to keep up. The digitisation of conveyancing, also known as e-conveyancing, is regularly mooted in the media as something for the future, with the government attempting to take a leading role in reforming how people buy and sell houses, which remains a process filled with bottlenecks and flaws. When the Land Registry set out its priorities for an ambitious … [Read more...]
Practice management software: 4 steps to a successful data transfer
Honesty and realistic expectations throughout the buying process When making the decision to transfer data to a new practice management system, it is imperative that your new service provider is honest and sets realistic expectations on what they can deliver early on in the buying process. It is often the case that overzealous sales people promise something they cannot deliver. The transfer process should be a partnership between the firm and the software provider, requiring time and effort from both parties. For law firms, being briefed and involved in process from the beginning helps to … [Read more...]
Go paperless in 2018
The term ‘paperless office’ was originally coined back in the 1970’s and has become an increasingly popular buzzword as technology has advanced to make the ‘paperless office’ an increasing reality for many law firms. With a new year just beginning, here are 10 reasons to make 2018 the year to become paperless and reap the benefits of a more productive and prosperous law firm for the new year and beyond. Remove the need for physical storage space To access a physical filing cabinet, you need to actually be standing in front of it. However, when using cloud-based … [Read more...]
True Cloud versus Hosted Cloud
As demand for cloud-based software solutions increase, the definition of True Cloud and the ways it differs from other services marketed as cloud-based, such as Hosted Cloud, become increasingly relevant. True Cloud offers good cost advantages compared to Hosted Cloud options because it tends to be designed with a better overview of its overall functionality and purpose. It also lends itself better to scalability, offering better cost benefits to businesses that are growing and looking to develop. Other cost benefits include cutting down on resources and space and also overhauling … [Read more...]
Modernisation of probate through technology and innovation
Traditionally, the probate department is the last to become automated in law firms. This is for a variety of reasons and is often not viewed as a fast-paced and profitable part of the business. In fact, a lot of firms don’t use automation in probate when they should, especially given the high level of document production involved. There is also a perceived fear that by using a practice management system you lose that all-important personal touch when practising probate and that handling matters and dealing with clients appropriately under difficult circumstances may be lost with … [Read more...]
Legal case management software: the here and now and looking ahead
David Bowden describes the current trends in the market for case management software for legal service providers. Legal service providers face increasing demands to automate their processes and utilise case management software products. They need to ensure that they are making the best use of these products. In recent years, the market has consolidated and new products have emerged. There are differences between all the products, and users need to make intelligent choices to obtain the best value for money. Cloud computing continues to grow in popularity and offers lawyers the … [Read more...]
Why your law firm needs a website
Increasingly more people have access and are using the internet and 80% of internet users own a smartphone. As the internet and mobile devices become more commonplace, traditional methods of advertising become more ineffective. Remember when everyone looked up businesses in the phone book? Now they look online for your website. If your firm doesn’t have a website, you risk damaging your firm’s credibility. Worse, you are losing money. Here are some more reasons why your law firm needs a website: Clients will pass you up otherwise When people are in need of legal services like … [Read more...]
Is your technology putting your law firm at risk?
Are you still running your firm’s important applications on your trusty old server, with outdated operating systems because they ”still work” and are good enough for the time being? You may look at your old server like a trusty old car, you are familiar with the ride and it gets you where you need to go. But lurking below the surface of that trusty old car and even your old server, can be hidden risks that can result in very big issues, even dangers, usually when you least expect it. Security risks Security risks are the number one danger of older technology. The older your … [Read more...]
Ransomware and your servers
It is easy to underestimate the term ransomware as just being another technical term to confuse the lay person in the baffling world of technology jargon. But the operative word is ‘ransom’, recent high-profile cases brought to the world’s attention the seriousness of this form of cyber-attack. As large organisation are held to ransom, it highlights that cyber extortion is a serious threat which can cause great uncertainty for any business. With Ransomware servers on your own premises are the primary target because of their vulnerability. Your staff are busy and are not trained on cyber … [Read more...]