Four important features of the digital workplace for law firms in 2023
The legal sector is currently in the midst of a period of great change from a technological perspective. Many of the reasons for this aren’t directly related to technology: the world is evolving socially, politically, and commercially, meaning law firms have to respond to new challenges ranging from hybrid working to diversity and inclusion.
The good news is that many law firms have already taken steps to deal with these challenges by moving at least partially into the cloud, particularly for web-based software and data storage. However, there is plenty more to be done so that every employee can securely access all the data and applications they need, wherever and whenever they’re working.
This is where digital workplace technology can be transformative for law firms, but only if it encompasses specific characteristics. This blog highlights four vital parts of any digital workplace deployment.
Digital workplace software essentials
When evaluating digital workplace software, look for these four capabilities above anything else:
1. A single desktop experience
A good solution will bring everything together into one accessible platform, from basic tools like email through to specific legal applications. This should be virtualised, so that employees can access it at home just as easily as they can in the office, and can make simple work of finding any data or applications.
2. Easy mobility
Delivering this ease of use is crucial to enabling staff to maximise their agility and work in the places that best suit them. As well as a virtual desktop and access to the cloud, a digital workplace mobile app can help them stay fully connected to their work and colleagues on the go.
3. Secure connectivity
This ease of use must be balanced with robust security, especially given the value and sensitivity of much of the information that law firms have to deal with day-to-day. The consequences of any data breach can be exceptionally severe, so end-to-end security is critical, including access controls that can adjust who has permission to view and edit different documents.
4. A tailor-made solution
Every law firm is different, whether it’s the level of hybrid working across the workforce, or the types of cases they have to deal with. That’s why getting the help of an expert partner to craft a bespoke digital workplace solution is so important. Only that way can you be sure that your digital estate is perfectly complementary to the needs of your business and employees, taking your current application and infrastructure estate into account.
How you can benefit from a better digital workplace
With the above four points addressed, you’ll quickly come to realise just how transformative a strong digital workplace solution can be for your firm, with:
- Increased flexibility: employees can be unshackled from the nine-to-five, or from long commutes, and work in the times and places where they feel happier and more productive
- Lower operational costs: a greater use of virtual meetings and digital collaboration reduces the demand for expensive physical office space. A similar reduction in on-premise IT infrastructure also means that a large IT team is no longer required
- Higher productivity and efficiency: on a day-to-day level, a more streamlined approach to how employees access data and applications makes it far easier to get more done in a shorter period of time
- Improved revenue: the two points above can both contribute to an increase in profitability, as a business finds itself able to achieve much more for a considerably lower outlay
- Better communication and innovation: virtual collaboration can democratise communication between all levels of employees and enable freer exchanges of ideas between employees and departments
- Easier talent acquisition and retention: virtual working makes existing employees feel valued, breaks down the geographical barriers of recruitment, and allows a law firm to hire talented staff from anywhere. These are key considerations at a time when the best employees are highly sought after
- Stronger customer experiences: happier, more productive employees who are able to communicate more easily will be able to deliver better quality of service to customers and clients. Furthermore, they will feel extra loyalty and engagement with their employer, to the point of becoming proactive brand advocates
In summary
This blog makes clear the scale of the potential that a good digital workplace deployment can bring, but also why it needs a focused, individual approach that suits the specific law firm and workforce involved. This is where the Access Workspace for Legal solution comes into its own, where our expert team can assess your needs and create a deployment that is ideal for your requirements. That way, you can get a digital workplace that’s efficient, cost-effective, and brings all the legal technology you need into one place.
Access Managed Services is more than just a provider of managed IT solutions - we're your dedicated partner in technology. We are passionate about making IT work seamlessly for your business, so you can focus on what matters most. Whether you're looking to embrace hybrid or remote working, or simply need a reliable IT partner to manage your day-to-day operations, we've got you covered.
Our services include cloud hosting, virtual desktops, Microsoft 365, managed IT support and cyber security, all designed to help businesses be at their most productive, secure, and effective in their day-to-day operations. We believe that technology should enhance your business, not hold it back. That's why our team is dedicated to building, monitoring, managing, and maintaining all your IT systems to ensure that they work seamlessly for your business.
