Law firms continue to change as document management needs shift
Many law firms have at least started the process of shifting their document management efforts from physical storage into digital, and this is often a good way for these types of organizations to save space and money on an ongoing basis. However, when undertaking any such efforts, it's vital that they develop a comprehensive strategy for approaching the transition the right way.
Often, one of the biggest issues with such a transition is that law firms have to use a hybrid approach. Many states have requirements that the original physical copies of files be kept on hand, because reproductions are not legally permissible. As such, law offices need to be able to store these files while still relying on digital document management and workflows to boost security and convenience in pulling up information on an as-needed basis, according to the Global Legal Post.
Why a digital strategy is vital
When law offices are able to sketch out direct requirements for how documents must be initially scanned into management systems, and how they are accessed on an ongoing basis, firms create a framework by which they will operate going forward, the report said. That, in turn, helps keep everyone on the same page, boosts information security standards and generally ensures greater efficiency when trying to pull files with critical information.
A big change
Unlike many other industries that have long since moved to an increasingly paperless business process, law firms just haven't had that luxury, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier. That's finally beginning to change, thanks in large part to digital document management solutions, as well as other evolving trends in the industry.
In Cincinnati alone, a number of major local law firms are either relocating for the first time in decades or renovating their existing spaces thanks to the digital revolution they undertook, the report said. Not only do law firms see the opportunity these new spaces present simply in terms of boosting energy efficiency and modernizing spaces, but it also allows for more collaboration between teams.
With all this in mind, it's clear that when law firms have digital strategies in mind that include new document capture efforts and ongoing plans for how to manage legal files, they are putting themselves in a better position in a number of different ways.
