Law firms have traditionally been risk-averse when it comes to remote working. Data sensitivity, cybersecurity concerns and the requirements of lawyer-client confidentiality have all contributed to a tendency within the legal sector to resist home working policies. However, the coronavirus pandemic has forced law firms to think laterally and implement remote working policies to ensure the continuity of their business, their client relationships and their productivity.
As the legal sector continues to embrace remote working, what impact will this new practice have on law firms in the long-term?
Streamlined operations with legal tech
Operating remotely requires that law firms have the right technology infrastructure in place. Lawyers need to be able to access critical information and collaborate with colleagues and clients in real time, from anywhere. In addition to general tools like Zoom and Trello, dedicated legal technology is becoming increasingly relevant to the day-to-day running of remote legal practices.
WiseTime autonomously documents lawyer activities and case billing, removing the need for manual timekeeping. Everlaw allows legal teams to engage in collaborative litigation work from anywhere in the world. HighQ provides a secure and efficient way to collaborate with clients online. And Patricia by Patrix is a case management system that has been designed to work in any location, ideal for the flexible, remote workplace.
A better work-life balance for lawyers
Millennials, who now make up the largest generational cohort in the US workforce, place an increasing amount of value on flexibility and work-life balance over salary advancement. Remote working allows lawyers to customise their working day to fit in with their personal circumstances — for example, allowing parents to pick children up from school and return to work in the evening.
Research shows that “87% of professionals say that a flexible job would reduce their stress.” For millennial lawyers in particular, the ability to work remotely is likely to be an increasingly important factor in the choice of employer.
Improved productivity and increased profit
The 2019 IWG Global Workplace Survey reports that “85% of employers confirm that productivity has increased” with greater flexibility in terms of workplace. Remote working reduces the need for office space, which results in significant savings for law firms. For example, Dell’s remote working policy is reportedly saving the company $12 million per year. The UK-based international law firm Ince & Co found that introducing a flexible and agile working policy increased their annual turnover by 16.1%.
Adopting a more inclusive culture
Remote companies employ a higher percentage of women in leadership roles. Research from the Boston Consulting Group has found that companies with above average diversity on management teams report “19% higher innovation revenues.” Remote working provides law firms with an opportunity to build a more diverse and inclusive organisation, which in turn can drive better performance and help them to attract top talent.
Attracting a wider talent pool
“80% of professionals say that they would turn down an employer that didn’t offer flexible working.” By offering remote working opportunities, law firms are not limited to a local talent pool and can look for the best candidates from anywhere in the world.
Remote working: how to make it work for your company
For some, adopting remote working practices will feel like uncharted territory, so we've put together this guide to provide you with a handy framework that has proven to work for us and many of our customers.
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