Small businesses need to realize that many customers prefer to interact with them electronically. The most cost-effective and safest way to achieve this is through the use of customer portals. The good news is that many practice management solutions now offer client portals as part of the package. Cybersecurity should be a top priority for all lawyers, regardless of the size of their law firm. Ransomware attacks have increased at an alarming rate, especially since the beginning of the pandemic, when lawyers were working on their unsecured home networks. Some reports put ransomware growth at 150% or more. For 2022, lawyers and law firms should carefully consider where they are in their technology journey and set a reasonable budget to move to their next level. In 2020, the FBI received a record number of cybercrime complaints in the United States: 791,790. This figure marks a 69% increase over 2019, resulting in total reported losses of $4.2 billion. The three most frequently reported crimes were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery fraud and extortion. Tom Lambotte (@GlobalMacIT) is a cybersecurity expert who has been working in the technical support industry for over a decade.
He founded BobaGuard in 2019, which offers a turnkey suite for solo lawyers and small and medium-sized law firms that includes a security suite specifically tailored to them. He is also the founder and CEO of GlobalMac IT, a managed service provider specializing in serving lawyers who use Macs. Microsoft Licensing Tip: Small businesses shouldn`t spend technology dollars on perpetual Microsoft Office licenses. Buying a Microsoft 365 subscription is a much better alternative. When you purchase a perpetual license, you only get the features available at the time of sale, and support is limited to just a few years. The subscription model provides you with constant updates (security and bug fixes) and all new features. There`s no doubt that the subscription model is the best – and safest – way. „It helps lawyers sift through their technological choices, ranging from hardware options to legal software tools designed to simplify the lives of lawyers in single law firms and small law firms.“ – Nicole Black, „The Latest Beach Reads: Position Your Small Firm For Success In 2019,“ AboveTheLaw.com e-books, CDs, downloadable content, and software purchases are neither voidable, neither refundable nor returnable. Click here for more information about LexisNexis eBooks. eBook versions of this title may include links to Lexis+ ™ for further legal research. A valid Subscription to Lexis+ ™ is required to access this content. This comprehensive guide is updated annually and offers a wide range of technology advice, from choosing hardware for your law firm to recommending legal software.
If your law firm is looking for new hardware, including laptops, smartphones, printers, or network devices, you`ve come to the right place in this book. If your law firm needs legal software to help you manage your law firm`s documents, improve productivity, or secure your law firm`s systems, you will definitely find tips on how to choose the software that best suits your law firm. Now that you`ve been working virtually as a lawyer for a month or more, you`ve undoubtedly become aware of your law firm`s shortcomings when it comes to remote work technology. Therefore, you`re probably considering adding new software and hardware to your law firm`s technological arsenal. But you may feel overwhelmed by your options and worried about making misinformed decisions. Rest assured, you are not alone. Brett Burney (@BBurney) is a director of Burney Consultants LLC, an independent legal technology consulting firm. He is also a sought-after trainer and facilitator for lawyers looking to integrate Macs and iPads into their practice. Brett is a former Chairman of aba Techshow`s Planning Board of Directors and a popular speaker on legal technology. As we are in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis and law firms across the country face similar challenges due to the unexpected transition to a remote workforce, I will highlight some of the key tools covered in this guide that will help businesses successfully practice the law virtually despite a distributed workforce. The 2020 Guide to Legal Technology for Solo and Small Firms is updated annually and offers a wide range of technology advice. This statement of inherent threat is supported by the ABA Legal Technology Report 2021, which found that 25% of the law firms that responded had experienced a security breach.
This is one of four – no good chances. And as mentioned above, the report also shows that small businesses and sole proprietorships will only invest a tiny portion of their technology budget in security next year (10% to 11%) compared to firms with more than 100 lawyers (20% to 36%). Join our virtual session: May 25, 2022 Women face a unique set of challenges and barriers to success in the legal technology industry. Less than 15 percent of legal tech founders are women, according to one article — focus first on people, then processes, then technology. Don`t let technology (and technology spend) lead you to expensive products that might not meet your needs. Start with your customers and employees to identify current pain points and imagine what you want to see for a seamless workflow. Work with your team (or if you`re a true solo, talk to your colleagues) to identify the essentials to run your practice from your laptop, with documents at your fingertips. Over the past two years, the pace of technology adoption has accelerated as companies automate their practices for remote work and virtual practice. We wondered what tools or initiatives small businesses could open for the coming year.
The popular annual guide to legal technology is back with its 2020 edition. The Guide to Legal Technology for Solo and Small Firms is the only book of its kind that helps lawyers in solo and small law firms find the best value for their legal technology dollars. In clear and understandable language, there is a vendor-independent overview and recommendations for computers, servers, network devices, legal software, printers, security products, smartphones, tablets, and more. Whether you choose to do it yourself or work with an IT consultant, this book contains the information you need to narrow down the selection to a manageable set of proven options. The truth is that sole proprietorships and small businesses need to do more when it comes to proactively addressing the threat of security breaches, but the solutions most often touted in legal publications are designed for medium-sized to large law firms, leaving solo firms and small firms completely alone. As part of the auto-renewal option, subscribers will receive a renewal notice at least 60 days prior to each renewal date, including the cost of the next annual subscription. The renewal price is likely to include a slight increase over last year`s subscription rate. If you`re a Clio user, explore Clio Grow, which allows you to automate your admissions process, schedule consultations, and accept payments online. Other law-specific products that receive positive reviews include Lawmatics, Litify, and PracticePanther. Some EDR solutions work in conjunction with a Security Operations Center (SOC) that adds a human element.
Some also have a restore capability, which means that your computer system can be reset to a known good state before the ransomware attack. It is priceless. EDR solutions are usually very affordable, even for the solo lawyer. It is highly recommended to invest in an EDR solution around 2022 technology dollars.