Introduction

Technological advancement has played a key role in helping various professions to enhance their business operation and data management methods. Over the past two decades, the world has experienced a drastic transformation in technology, facilitating the legal profession to embrace new changes (Zorza, 2012). Moreover, technological development in this sector has produced precise expertise intended to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of legal work. Specifically, devices, equipment, Apps have transformed the legal system since they have enabled quicker and easier legal processes. Additionally, they have changed the conventional methods of legal processes making them faster to perform (Kengyel & Nemessányi, 2012). Therefore, a law firm should adopt new technology such as online resources and use of cloud based services.

The law firms, just as other companies are being affected by development of technology, which is disrupting how they operate. Law firms should embrace the uses of Apps and software aiming to improve their efficiency and productivity. In addition, when they integrate the new technology in their daily operation, they will be able to achieve a competitive advantage over other firms (Zorza, 2012). Moreover, they will be able to meet the demands of advanced technology in the contemporary world. For instance, the law firms should adopt the use of cloud-based technology. Research indicates that this technology is very important because it provide an opportunity for management of data, storing and sharing (Kengyel & Nemessányi, 2012).

Currently, there are legal apps that can be used via iPads, which help a law firm to use cloud-based software in secure storage of documents. In addition, cloud-based services help a legal practitioner to access crucial documents anytime and anywhere especially in the court (Kengyel & Nemessányi, 2012). Furthermore, through cloud computing, law firms should also embrace use of teleworking. Through this technology, they will have the opportunity to operate from their home because it provides structures for management of data, conferencing Apps, virtual legal libraries, and collaboration software (Zorza, 2012).

Thanks to improvement in teleworking services, law firms will be able to establish virtual services and offices where clients can access them anywhere. Additionally, via this technology, it is possible for law firms to operate exclusively online (Casellas, 2011). The benefit of this technology is that it reduces the cost of accessing legal assistance for the client since the company will not need huge infrastructural costs for human resources and IT employment relative to a normal company (Zorza, 2012). More significantly, legal companies should embrace use of virtual law services because it provides a chance to meet clients demand for flexible and cheaper options. Furthermore, when the availability of virtual legal services increases, clients will be able to access them more easily as a lifestyle (Casellas, 2011).

Law firms should also adopt online resource databases such as West Law, Fast case, Lois law, Hein Online and Lexis Advance. Moreover, these online resource databases offers various information on law reviews, public records, administrative codes, federal and state statutes and case laws. There are two types of online database, which include free sources and commercial databases (Kengyel & Nemessányi, 2012). Relative to free databases, commercial databases such as West Law offer a wide range of information.

Legal firms should adopt of these databases because they would be able to access large amount of essential information. Furthermore, they will be able to gain technical support, which play a crucial role in establishing a search and selecting databases (Casellas, 2011). Finally, they also offer reliable source of information because the Internet has many websites, which are not trustworthy. The effect of this technological advancement is that it empowers smaller law firms to compete effectively with other bigger firms (Zorza, 2012).

Legal firms should also formulate measures that will allow them to apply Apps to enhance their legal structures. Some of the essential apps include EDEPOZE, EDISCOVERY ASSISTANT, EXHIBITVIEW and TRAILDRECTOR as well as CASEMANAGER (Casellas, 2011). Specifically, EDEPOZE is very useful in electronic storage of deposition or committal exhibits. The app utilizes cloud-based system and it allows the law firm to share, mark and introduce exhibits at appropriate time (Zorza, 2012). Similarly, the app should be utilized because it reduces document and paper piles when the law firm is organizing for testifying witnesses hence eliminating use of heavy boxes.

Additionally, application of EXHIBITVIEW facilitates the law firm to organize data used for litigation. The technology promotes storage and annotation as well as quick retrieval of information. Similarly, it promote better management of different types of information ranging from audio, videos and images (Kengyel & Nemessányi, 2012). On the other hand, TRAILDRECTOR should be adopted in law firms because it is beneficial in preparation of trial and management of evidence. It also helps to build exhibit lists, transcript and videos, and trial and witness workbooks. CASEMANAGER and EDISCOVERY ASSISTANT should also be embraced in law firms because they offer a chance to provide cost efficient and faster legal assistance via mobile (Casellas, 2011). Through this technology, the legal firm can be able to manage legal practices online via a mobile device such as archive photos and documents, billing data and case notes and lists.

Conclusion

In contemporary world, there is high demand to use advance technology especially in the legal industry. Therefore, law firms should strive to adopt new technology that will help them manage information concerning their witnesses, and exhibit as well as legal practices (Kengyel & Nemessányi, 2012). Technologies such as cloud-based services should be utilized in the law firm because they help to organize and store crucial data such as videos, images and Pdfs. Similarly, they can be accessed anywhere especially in the court.

Annotated Bibliography

Casellas, N. (2011). Legal ontology engineering: methodologies, modelling trends, and the ontology of professional judicial knowledge (Vol. 3). Springer Science & Business Media.

This article analyses the need for adoption of technology advances in legal systems especially among the law firms. The author addresses the importance of cloud-based systems with regard to legal systems. The author argues that cloud-based systems should be used to enhance management, storing and sharing of data. The author also recommends various Apps and software, which can be used via cloud-based technology.

Kengyel, M. & Nemessányi, Z. (2012). Electronic technology and civil procedure. Dordrecht: Springer.

The authors conducted a review of the technological development that has transformed the legal systems. In particular, the authors focus on the need of legal companies to embrace online resource databases such as West Law and Lexis. The authors noted that these databases play a critical role in digital transformation of firm because they provide a wide range of information on federal and state statutes, case laws, law journals, and administrative codes and other legal reviews and information.

Zorza, R. (2012). Some First Thoughts on Court Simplification: The Key to Civil Access and Justice Transformation. Drake L. Rev., 61, 845.

Technological advancement in law firms is very important in promotes efficiency and productivity. The author proposes that law companies should adopt current technological expertise because it will facilitate competitive advantage in the legal industry. Companies that use this technology are able to attract more clients as compared to other who do not

References

Casellas, N. (2011). Legal ontology engineering: methodologies, modelling trends, and the ontology of professional judicial knowledge (Vol. 3). Springer Science & Business Media.

Kengyel, M. & Nemessányi, Z. (2012). Electronic technology and civil procedure. Dordrecht: Springer.

Zorza, R. (2012). Some First Thoughts on Court Simplification: The Key to Civil Access and Justice Transformation. Drake L. Rev., 61, 845.