From the ancient Greeks to multinational companies today, many wise enterprises have seen the benefits of outsourcing. But what would a modern law firm look like if it put its information technology (IT) department out to tender and employ the best talents to care for its technological needs? This article explores the advantages of outsourcing IT support for law firms.
We begin by delving into a model IT capability of a law firm. Ideally, your IT department regulates and maintains the firm’s computer systems, such as its hardware, software, and networks. They give staff ongoing technical help and ensure the firm’s data and systems are secure and compliant.
How do you know if you need better IT professionals to manage your law firm’s technical needs?
As a lawyer, your day is filled with court appearances, client meetings, legal team meetings, and legal research. Everything from sensitive client information to case files is stored on your laptop or mobile device.
To know whether or not you need better IT professionals to help your law firm, you need to ask yourself the following questions:
- Are your laptops and devices secured against hackers or theft?
- Is sensitive information securely backed up in a central location, or are they in bits and pieces on different devices?
- Are your laptops equipped with the latest software and hardware to host or participate in online court sessions?
- Is your legal team sending sensitive documents via a secure messaging network or taking a risk using WhatsApp?
- Do you often need help finding and retrieving documents?
- Do your laptops constantly crash or run out of space?
Suppose your answers to the questions above reveal a considerable gap and threat to your law firm’s security. In that case, you need to seriously consider outsourcing IT support.
Outsourcing IT support allows law firm personnel to concentrate on their day jobs while leaving their technological needs to a team of professionals.
Let’s look at the various advantages this approach offers legal firms.
- Your Legal Team Has The Best IT Support
Instead of experiencing the embarrassing situation of having your laptop crash midway through an online court session or worrying about the security risk to your sensitive information, have your outsourced IT support monitor the firm’s systems to verify that all tools are running effectively and efficiently, and notify you if any concerns arise.
They can regularly clean, update software, and replace old or damaged hardware parts. If a tool malfunction or fails altogether, IT support will troubleshoot the problem and make any necessary repairs.
Furthermore, they can assist law firms with technical support when they have issues or require assistance with their hardware. They will handle the recovery process in a disaster, ensuring as little downtime as possible.
Working with outsourced IT support relieves you of the burden of hardware maintenance. Allow the professionals to handle the details so you can focus on what you do best: helping clients.
- Your Law Firm Has the Best Technology In Place
Did you know that the type of hardware and software you use at your law firm can be tailored to support your practice areas? The best-outsourced IT professionals in the legal industry understand what your law firm needs to succeed and can deliver what you need effortlessly.
Of course, having good IT support consultancy is just the beginning. Outsourced IT support relieves law firms of the burden of installing and maintaining these new technologies. Many will also supply your personnel with the training and support they need to understand new tools, improvements, and ways of working. This assistance is invaluable — even your most technologically-adverse coworkers will be able to get up and running quickly.
- Your Law firm’s Sensitive Data is Secure on All Devices
Law firms keep highly sensitive, confidential, and valuable information on their clients. As a result, they are an appealing target for potential hackers. Shockingly, research from the American Bar Association (ABA) reveals that 27% of law firms have had a security breach at some point.
It is imperative to have the latest security systems and practices in place. Your outsourced IT support is usually up to date on the latest dangers, can train your legal team on detecting and avoiding any cyber attacks and will provide your company with the tools it needs to combat would-be hackers, such as data encryption. While security is taken care of, you must notify your outsourced IT support about specific compliance duties in your practice areas. Working closely with them ensures that both technical and compliance requirements are met.
- Your law firm has both world-class legal technology and support
While your outsourced IT support may be adept at ensuring your hardware and software needs are up to standards, they still need you to implement the latest legal technology for the best results.
Cloud-based legal practice management, accounting, and billing software like CoreMatter can help. This legal-specific technology can keep your firm’s data in one place: case files, client contact information, billing records, etc. Additionally, CoreMatter is already in-built to meet legal-accounting compliance needs and has bank-grade security in place.
Having both specialised support in place ensures that your law firm is equipped to perform at its best.
In a nutshell
Having a team of professionals and the best legal technology can save you time and hassle. They will implement new technology, offer stress-free remote working, monitor potential weaknesses, strengthen your systems, answer your employees’ inquiries, and even provide the necessary training. On top of that, having the best legal technology in place gives your law firm the competitive advantage it needs to thrive.
________________
Sign up today for a free demo to learn more about CoreMatter!
CoreMatter, the leading cloud-based case management tool in Southeast Asia, frees your firm from the mess of the mundane to focus on what matters most.
