The legal sector is not exactly known for championing the adoption of cutting edge technology — and understandably so. Legal cases are rightfully subjected to numerous layers of bureaucracy, and detangling these processes for digital integration will inevitably bring about risks that legal firms would rather stay away from. That said, digitalisation is coming to the legal sector slowly but surely, and firms that choose not to innovate put themselves at another type of risk — the risk of irrelevance — as their competitors become more efficient and adopt new methods of communication that clients resonate with.

Four in five law firms recognise the urgency of having a clear digital strategy, but barely one in five of them have actually embraced technology.

Reasons for law firms to innovate and digitalise

What the legal sector is known for, are long working hours that are costing firms in terms of talent retention and employee productivity. Case in point, research by Microsoft showed that 40% of lawyers are contemplating quitting their jobs. Close to a quarter of UK lawyers cited lack of work-life balance as their main reason for wanting to leave, with the same percentage of people expressing desire to leave the profession altogether.

Working well over 40 hours is regarded as a rite of passage for any junior lawyer who wishes to have a successful career in the legal space. It’s not uncommon for junior lawyers to leave the office between Midnight and 2:00am, clocking a total of up to 100 hours a week.

Despite the long hours, many law firms are still leaving a lot of money on the table. A study by Law Technology Today found that law firms take an average of three days or more to respond to queries from potential clients. Further research by Martindale Nolo revealed that, shockingly, more than one in four law firms do not track their leads at all.

The evidence speaks loud and clear: law firms are in dire need of assistance. Digital transformation can help law firms make two friends with one gift by taking a heavy burden off the shoulders of their lawyers while simultaneously expediting case processing time. According to a study commissioned by McKinsey & Co, organisations that undergo digital transformation are 23% more likely to acquire new customers and 19% more likely to be profitable.

Make your law firm discoverable online

The good news is that forward thinking law firms can take advantage of the present dearth in customer communications and leapfrog competitors. This is important because a survey by iLawyerMarketing shows that 84% of customers will consider at least three law firms before making a hiring decision. These customers typically comprise busy professionals who are extracting more than one day out of their packed schedules to conduct research. The result is that virtually all of them (97%) will not revisit a website unless there’s a compelling reason for them to do so.

Making your lawyers contactable by placing direct links to their Whatsapp (or preferred Chat App) on your website gives customers a chance to engage directly with your law firm and clear up any doubts, concerns, and queries that they might have about the legal proceedings. This immediate, real-time response can be scaled across multiple regions with 8x8 Converse — a customer management dashboard that lets you track and monitor conversations across some of the UK's most popular chat apps from a single platform. This includes ubiquitous Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger, as well as channels such as WeChat and KakaoTalk that are popular amongst minority groups.

Activate instant consultations with live video

Enabling two-way conversations will put you way ahead of the pack, but you can extend that advantage by providing on-demand virtual consultations. After all, clients who are embroiled in lawsuits don’t often have the luxury of time to make cumbersome trips down to your office.

A 2021 Wolters Kluwer survey concluded that 78% of legal clients value efficiency and productivity.

What’s more, video consultations grant your lawyers a chance to market themselves and demonstrate their expertise. 8x8’s Video Interaction tool provides you with valuable opportunities to establish rapport through one-to-one interactions. The best part is that these video consultations can be activated immediately through clicks on links embedded directly on your website or chat conversations. No downloads, no sign-ups, no resetting of passwords. Just business.

Secure legal clients with secure transactions

Secure and efficient payment methods offer your clients a pleasant engagement experience by allowing them to tie up all loose ends and move on with their lives (this is also brilliant for word-of-mouth marketing). Instead of waiting for 30, 60, or even 90 day payment cycles, 8x8’s SMS API allows your clients to authenticate and verify payments immediately through Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) facilitated by One-Time Passwords (OTPs).

Backed by text-to-speech software, the API adds an additional layer of security by converting OTPs into voice formats that leave no digital trace for cyberattackers to infiltrate. Voice delivery also makes your service more accessible and inclusive to the visually impaired community who may have trouble seeking out legal services that accommodates their needs.

Digitalise your legal firm the compliant way

The truth is that technology has advanced to a point where we no longer have to sacrifice security for convenience, or vice versa. All 8x8 products are protected by proactive defence systems that scan for threats before data breaches even occur. A low-code design allows lawyers and other non-programming staff to navigate its interface intuitively. Through a combination of automation and expedited workflows, 8x8 Communications APIs will allow your lawyers to focus on what they do best and let 8x8 handle the rest.