IT network infrastructure and maintenance for SME Law firms, lawyers and litigators

The UK legal system is going through metamorphosis as the world moves towards the ‘information age’. Most lawyers, judges, legal administrators and their clients are becoming increasingly reliant on IT and expect to rely upon modern systems in their daily practice. Even the courtroom, which is often thought of as the last support of antediluvian working practices, is embracing new technology.

Leading edge technology solutions pervade massive dispute-resolving capability for a fraction of today’s price. This growing scope, added to greater connectivity between users around the world offers tremendous opportunities to build intelligent systems, i.e. platforms that can adapt to change, manage change and integrate their users’ requirements and can learn from experience.

However, despite concentrated efforts by judges, professional bodies and court administrators, the UK still has a number of SME Law firms, lawyers and litigators who are reluctant to embrace new technologies or other alternatives. The desire to ‘carry on as before’ or invest in stand alone technologies may be one reason why majority of capable but middle size firms are still a long way from their US counterparts.

Increasing awareness

The main challenges facing the legal sector (and their clients) in maximising technological benefits is

	that the majority of lawyers and their clients are often sceptical about the advantages that such technology can bring to resolving their case;
	a frequent lack of desire to ‘experiment’ with new technology (that may be seen as a diversion) for the fear of not obtaining decent ROI (Return on Investments) on the implementation of technology
	a general lack of awareness in the marketplace as to what technology is already available to assist in bringing timely and cost-effective resolution.
	Creating and implementing business processes parallel to the IT Systems integration instead of one converged business solution.

Key Issues

All legal services firms are heavily dependent on their internal business networks

	As well as running smoothly, this managed IT networks must be cost-effective and performance driven so as to ensure the cost of technology is not allowed to spiral
	Increasingly, effective network management demands the availability of specialist skills, without being a burden on internal resource and payroll.