The rapid development of new technologies is causing nearly every field to shift, and the legal world is no exception. At the risk of becoming unreliable or insufficient for their clients, those in the legal profession must quickly adapt and adopt new technology as it arrives, implementing it into their regular processes. These technological advances are drastically affecting the field, from new programs designed to improve the efficiency and accuracy of proceedings to developments in interpersonal interaction that complicates matters more than ever before.
Social Media
Though social media was not immediately adopted by most legal professionals, it soon became necessary for those in the legal field to cultivate active presences online. For both individuals and businesses, maintaining social media accounts has become crucial. Their usage has primarily been for networking purposes, but client rapport formation, education, and even case investigation have all been reasons for increased, regular social media usage.
Artificial Intelligence
Rather than occupy valuable time with tedious tasks like sorting through documents and organizing information, developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are freeing up legal professionals’ time by taking on these duties. With advanced analytical capabilities, AI programs are able to identify common data and sort documents accordingly. Similarly, AI tools can be used to assist in due diligence and contract review.
As the technology continues to grow, it can be assumed that AI will be able to complete more complex tasks like predicting legal outcomes and automating lengthy court proceedings. If this is the case, many jobs in the legal field will ultimately be rendered obsolete, forcing the industry to adapt and create new strategies that both utilize AI and their human professionals.
Online Resources & Legal Services
Utilizing the Internet for the purpose of providing legal advice has been a subject of debate, but many law firms have devoted time and energy to researching the prospect of expanding their client base to the online sphere. Electronic billing has also proved beneficial, and the opportunities for discovery presented online have demonstrated an immense improvement compared to previous efforts of marketing and outreach. Likewise, efforts to hire qualified, respectable employees have improved, as well.
In spite of the challenges involving adaptability and evolution, technology has had a largely positive impact on the legal profession. As technology continues to advance, it is safe to say that the legal field will continue to benefit.