The internet has become an integral part of our work, entertainment, and interactions with others. But last time you typed in a web address to access your email or social media of choice, did you think about how it all works? The web browser and applications you rely on daily impacts your speed, security, and overall experience—perhaps more than you know.
There are many benefits to becoming your own boss. Obviously, the potential for a higher income and not answering to higher ups are top of the list. You can decide what clients you take on, choose to specify in a certain area of the law, set your prices how you want, and you can build something from the ground up based on your values.
All that said, there are some changes you can expect when starting your own law firm. Once you take the leap, you’re no longer just a lawyer. You’re a business owner first and foremost. Which means your job now comes with all the business operations and tasks that keep your doors open (yes, that means business plans, cash flow forecasts, accounting and more!). You won’t be able to “just practice the law” anymore, and the growth of your law firm lies at your feet.
Woodpecker is thrilled to announce its new direct integration with MyCase, the leading legal case management software. MyCase was built specifically to support the workflows of law firms, and its user-friendly design is driven by the insights and feedback from the people who use MyCase daily. This new integration gives Woodpecker customers, who are also using MyCase, the ability to create client documents right in MyCase using Woodpecker templates and MyCase client data.
Legal document automation is a system or workflow that helps create electronic documents using data already collected. It is used to speed up the drafting process, so you can focus on activities that move the needle, reduce margin for human error, and maintain/increase profit margins.
In this essential guide, we’re going to walk you through what document automation is, the benefits for law firms like yours, how to choose the right software for you, and how to ensure the implementation is a success.
Many lawyers liken client interviews to a first date. Using the same analogy, in today's digital first world, you could compare a client interview form to an online dating profile. The interview form gives you information about a potential client before you meet them, and forms part of your intake process. It allows you to screen leads to see if they’re a good fit for your services, and ensure there are no conflicts.
In this article, we discuss the importance of high-quality interview form templates, how you can use them to streamline your client intake process, and what questions you should ask to enhance the customer experience.
Organization for the modern-day lawyer means the ability to easily navigate saved computer files, digital documents, and databases. This means attorneys should commit to strong naming conventions for their files, as well as for the “fields” for their databases and automated documents.
As a lawyer, you may have people who work for you and who work with you. In the legal industry, these team members are often thought of as “cost centers” or “production centers”—not as people.
But this view actually undersells the value your employees and coworkers can bring to your firm.
The unseen value of your staff is a large reserve waiting to be tapped. Leaving that resource untouched makes your employees check out, lose confidence and interest in their job, and ultimately make your clients suffer.
If you bring in diverse perspectives and heuristics, you’ll be a more holistic counselor as a lawyer. It will not only make your job easier, it will produce better results for your clients. Being able to understand a client’s diversity of needs and serve them with a diverse team can turn a seemingly difficult client into a successful case.
Document automation and assembly of legal documents is an indispensable process for increasing productivity and maintaining profit margins in an increasingly competitive market. Of course, that's only when the technology is actually used (and usable), and why great user experience is everything when it comes to achieving major efficiency goals through document automation.
When you need to draft a new contract or legal document, do you open up a template and then manually update all the merge fields with client information?
And when you need to collaborate on that document with clients and/or counter parties, are you still emailing it back and forth? Discover the four ways manual drafting is costing your firm time and money.
We’ve heard it over and over that corporate lawyers’ GC-bosses want, expect and even need them to do more higher-level, strategic work, but that the demands of day-to-day lower-level tactical issues such as drafting and re-drafting contracts – often the very same contracts – make that impossible.
Anyone can buy legal technology, but getting lawyers to actually use that technology is the ultimate challenge. A great user experience is the key to conquering that challenge.
Failure is always an option, even for rocket scientists. The only way not to fail is to never really try. Unfortunately, for too many lawyers, they’d rather not try because it means they could never fail. But in today’s world, not trying is never an option.
Welcome to the End User Era! Welcome to your chance to try - and buy - the software that you want, that you need - not what your IT department thinks you need.
Sometimes it can feel like you aren't following the same guidance that you suggest to your clients when it comes to productivity and operational effectiveness. Check out these simple things you can do to get your firm back on track.
