Like most businesses, most law firms think of their Information Technology as simply “table stakes” needed to run a firm. But what could your firm accomplish if you used IT to help Improve your client service, productivity, compliance, and more? IT support for law firms is its own specialty—and one worth investing in.
The right IT partner can do a lot more for you than just making sure your systems are up and running. They can provide strategic guidance that improves everything about the way your firm operates, giving you a solid foundation to build upon in a rapidly advancing tech landscape. At Integris, we built our business working with law firms and now run IT for more than 100 law firms across the US. Here’s what we’ve learned about the most common tech challenges law firms face, and how the right IT support for law firms can make a difference.
IT Support for Law Firms: How an IT MSP Can Help You Overcome Your Five Biggest Tech Challenges
When you’re shopping for IT support for your law firm, experience in the sector matters. Law firms operate with a high level of complexity, risk, and very often, speed. Don’t let your IT platforms become the reason you don’t have a file to transfer when a client needs it, or key information gets breached. With the right IT support, you can stay one step ahead of the ever evolving demands even the smallest firms face. Find IT support for law firms that can help you with these top five critical areas.
Challenge #1—Managing Case Management Software
Law firms depend on case management software to keep their operations organized and efficient. This software helps track cases, manage client information, and streamline workflows. Can the IT MSP you’re talking to handle all the maintenance, updates, and compatibility reviews they need to stay operational?
Without proper IT support, law firms can face numerous challenges, such as software glitches that disrupt daily operations, data loss due to system failures or human error, and integration issues with other essential systems like email, document management, and billing software. An IT MSP with legal industry expertise can help you choose the right software, handle patching and updates, produce monitoring and policy documentations, integrate its cost into your yearly IT budget, and keep your firm from experiencing software driven glitches. Don’t let an IT MSP learn on the job when it comes to your core practice software platforms. Expertise counts.
Challenge #2—Staying Ahead of Cybersecurity Threats
Many law firms think of themselves as too small to be a target of cyber criminals. But with the sensitive and valuable nature of the information law firms house, they’re juicy targets for thieves and saboteurs. With AI coding and deep fakes lowering the bar of entry for cyber crime, law firms are seeing a steep rise in cyber attacks. According to the American Bar Association’s latest tech report, nearly 30% of law firms have reported a data breach, and smaller firms with 10-49 employees are more likely than larger firms to be hit.
By addressing these IT challenges with specialized support, law firms can maintain smooth and secure operations. That’s a key selling point for potential clients, and a good foundation for your firm to grow on. The right IT support for law firms should help your practice:
- Implement robust cybersecurity measures
- Use advanced firewalls and encryption techniques to protect data from unauthorized access
- Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities in the system
- Provide essential training for employees on recognizing and preventing cyber threats, such as phishing emails and suspicious links
- Develop incident response plans to ensure a quick and effective response to security breaches or cyberattacks
- Continuously monitor systems for real-time detection and response to potential threats, keeping the firm’s data secure
Challenge #3: Maintaining Uptime for Crucial Services
For law firms, downtime can be incredibly costly, disrupting client communication, case management, and overall productivity. Ensuring that IT systems are always operational is critical to maintaining the firm’s efficiency and reputation. Even a short period of downtime can lead to missed deadlines, lost billable hours, and dissatisfied clients.
To prevent these issues, IT support teams provide round-the-clock monitoring of systems to detect and resolve potential problems before they cause significant downtime. This proactive approach ensures that any issues are addressed swiftly, minimizing disruptions. Additionally, IT support teams implement robust backup solutions to protect against data loss. In the event of a system failure, these backups ensure that critical data can be quickly restored. Disaster recovery plans are also put in place to maintain business continuity, allowing the firm to continue operations with minimal interruption even in the face of major IT incidents.
Challenge #4—Compliance with Legal Regulations
Law firms must navigate a complex landscape of legal and ethical standards regarding data protection and privacy. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in severe penalties, legal liabilities, and damage to the firm’s reputation. Ensuring compliance is not just about avoiding fines; it’s about maintaining the trust and confidence of clients.
Your law firm must comply with best practices for client confidentiality, to be certain. But did you know that you’re also bound by the same data handling regulations that bind your client? For instance, if you’re handling a case for a healthcare client that might include files with HIPAA protected information, do you have the right systems in place to maintain your compliance? If you’re handling a client’s financial transaction records for European customers, are you compliant with GDPR? The same thing goes for customers who are government contractors, and are bound by CMMC regulations for manufacturers. Good IT support for law firms includes understanding these regulations, and how they affect your firm’s IT practices, specifically. Is your IT provider up to the challenge?
An MSP with virtual Chief Information Security Officers (vCISOs) can be an enormous help navigating this complicated compliance landscape, providing advanced planning, documentation, and governance of your systems. If you’re interested in the subject of IT compliance and your law firm, you can learn more in our latest blog on the subject.
Challenge #5—Managing Remote Work
The shift to remote work has introduced a host of new IT challenges for law firms. Ensuring secure access to case files and maintaining effective communication among team members are critical to sustaining productivity and client service. Remote work environments can expose firms to increased security risks and complicate the management of IT resources.
Find an IT Support provider that can help you set up a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs encrypt internet connections, providing a secure tunnel for data transmission, while cloud-based systems, like Microsoft Windows 365, offer scalable and flexible access to resources.
In addition to securing remote access, IT support provides tools and support for virtual collaboration. This includes setting up and maintaining platforms for video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management. These tools facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among team members, regardless of their physical location. A good IT partner can offer offer training and troubleshooting to ensure that all employees understand how to log in safely, using multi-factor authentication.
By implementing these solutions, IT support services enable law firms to adapt to the remote work environment without compromising on security or efficiency, ensuring that they can continue to deliver high-quality legal services to their clients.
IT Support for Law Firms: Looking to the Future
The legal sector is undergoing a significant transformation with the advent of emerging technologies. These innovations are reshaping how law firms operate, offering new tools and capabilities that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and security. Key technologies driving this change include artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and advanced analytics. Some of them, like AI tools through Microsoft’s CoPilot, are already available. Others, like Blockchain, are still emerging. You’ll want an IT support partner that can help you stay on the lookout for new technologies, and, when appropriate, get in on the game early. Here’s how these technologies are already affecting the industry:
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is revolutionizing legal research and document review. AI-powered tools can quickly analyze vast amounts of legal data, identify relevant case law, and even predict case outcomes based on historical data. This not only speeds up the research process but also improves accuracy and reduces costs. AI can also automate routine tasks, such as contract analysis and due diligence, freeing up lawyers to focus on more complex and strategic work.
(CTA: AI Acceptable Use Policy)
Blockchain: Blockchain technology offers a secure and transparent way to handle transactions and store sensitive information. For law firms, blockchain can be used to create tamper-proof records of legal documents, ensuring their authenticity and integrity. It also facilitates secure and efficient smart contracts, which automatically execute and enforce contract terms when predefined conditions are met. This reduces the risk of fraud and enhances trust between parties.
Advanced Analytics: Advanced analytics provide law firms with deeper insights into their cases and operations. By analyzing data from various sources, firms can identify patterns and trends that inform case strategy and decision-making. Predictive analytics can forecast case outcomes, helping lawyers develop more effective strategies. Additionally, analytics can optimize internal processes, such as resource allocation and client management, leading to improved efficiency and client satisfaction.
Need IT Support for Law Firms? Integris Can Help.
At Integris, we have our own legal practice, providing IT support for law firms across the country. Our first clients were law firms, and today, we can offer you products, services, and a help desk with dedicated legal IT experts. We’d love to tell you more. Contact us at integrisit.com/contact for a free consultation.
