Will 2021 really be any different for SME law firms?

Nick Hayne, head of professional services at Quiss, says as firms evolve and adapt, can they meet the changing demands of their clients by introducing new ways of working?

Every business appears to be painting an optimistic view of the world in 2021, as they move on from the difficulties associated with the pandemic and enjoy a more agile future, where remote working is normal, at least for some of the week.

But can we really expect productivity and collaboration to match that of office-based employees? Is this really what the future looks like for modern law firms, or is it just paying lip-service to the future hoped for by younger fee earners who claim management by floor-walking is counter-productive?

Is the focus now too much on what the people want and not what the clients need? Or as firms evolve and adapt, can they meet the changing demands of their clients by introducing new ways of working, ones which allow their people to interact seamlessly with each other and their clients?

Survey tells the story yet to be told

In a recent survey of mid-market law firms in the UK, undertaken by NetMotion – solutions of which improve performance, visibility and security for mobile and remote employees – the key driver for 2021 is to create a better user experience.

Two thirds of law firm IT leads cited this as a primary area of focus for the coming year, driven in no small measure by the experience of remote working in lockdown and just what was possible – a productivity surprise, perhaps to most.

Transitioning to the cloud is also a major focus for law firms in 2021, which probably comes as no surprise given that almost all firms still maintain at least one on-premise application. The move to cloud is hardly a recent decision and is a decade-long process for many law firms – recognising the process of upgrading legacy technology doesn’t happen overnight.

Commercial commitments and the need to still deliver a return on investment in office-based equipment along with security considerations and other factors all play a role in making this a journey of transformation with many waypoints.

Law firms everywhere will consider the possible benefits and indeed drawbacks of working three days in the office and two from home, weighing up which teams need to be in together to collaborate effectively.

In doing so, they must recognise innovative technologies will not only enhance the user experience but allow them to connect more closely with ever more demanding clients, who really don’t care where the work comes from, as long as it’s right and on time.