Law firms adapting to younger lawyers’ digital needs

Times are changing, and in the legal profession, that often means a huge overhaul of long-standing processes. Technology allows for document management systems to truly meet the needs of lawyers, paralegals and clerks with lightning-fast efficiency, and automated workflows allow increased oversight by the people who need access to any relevant file.

Of course, a modern document management system is one that can be accessed from anywhere by anyone who has proper authorization. That's increasingly an expectation – not just a nice-to-have feature – among younger lawyers now entering the profession, according to Law.com. The youngest millennials and oldest members of Generation Z are now at an age where they are graduating law school or approaching that point.

What does that mean?
Young people who have basically lived most of their lives in a world where Wi-Fi connections and smart devices have been nearly ubiquitous don't just want greater connectivity – whether they're at the courthouse or simply working from home, the report said. Instead, they more or less demand it. By and large, law firms recognize this emerging reality, and are expanding access to their legal document management systems accordingly.

All-in-one options are thriving
Among the most common selections law firms are going with to handle these needs are customizable management software packages that allow them to select features they need, according to the American Bar Association Journal. These could include features that allow users to pull up and search files, collaborate on work, communicate with each other and so on, but also keep track of issues like billing.

Simply put, the more law firms can do to identify their needs around document management – including backfile scanning to initiate workflows – the better off they will be when it comes to choosing a platform that will meet all their needs – as well as young hires' expectations for flexibility and convenience.