Remote working is the future of the legal profession, and what we should be preparing for. Here Lateral provide their top five tips for law firms to both embrace and better manage their remote workforce.
1. Maintain Your Online Presence
With everyone away from the office it’s important that your law firm maintains a strong online presence. Let this be a time for increased investment in your website and social media. You can still make a strong impression even if the doors to the office are closed.
2. Move to the Cloud
Managing your legal practice remotely is simplified by shifting operations to the cloud. Cloud based legal practice management software is the great equaliser. It enables your firm to operate at full capacity remotely and virtually. The powerful tools of cloud based case management software provide a versatile and productive response to the challenges of remote working.
3. Focus on Your Cybersecurity
For those working remotely security should be a serious concern. Ensure workers are using secured WiFi connections when at home, if not malicious parties may pursue their confidential information. Another concern relates to antivirus software. Desktops in the office will have security features in place, but when working from home staff may not have strong antivirus software, nor have customised firewalls in place. Email scams are also becoming commonplace and workers should be made aware that they can be targeted in this regard. Remote workers should use strong passwords, set up firewalls, adopt antivirus software, secure their home router, back up their data and be aware of phishing emails.
4. Streamline Communication
Communication becomes more important than ever in a remote working environment. Clear communication channels should not only be established between staff, but also between the law firm and their clients. A client portal built into legal case management software can give a client 24/7 access and updates about their case. With the right case management software, collaboration and communication between client and law firm can thrive, within a safe, encrypted and secure online environment.
5. Monitor Your Staff
Since none of your staff are in the office in person, it can be hard to manage and understand the work they are carrying out. Cloud based legal case management software can provide management with important oversight in this regard. Management team leaders can have access to information reports on each individual’s time recording, enabling them to analyse all aspects of performance. For example, they can ascertain what precise percentage of time worked was chargeable, and see where inefficiencies may have arisen. Other on screen information which management may be privy to includes analysis against budget and work in process (WIP) trends. This easily accessible on screen data provides management with true oversight. A team’s workload can also be viewed and managed too, as well as tasks reassigned.
With a successful, growing law firm comes the need for greater technology and more efficient digital operations. Whether it be case management software or document storage solutions for your law firm, Lateral’s highly flexible and cloud-based automated software can meet your precise needs. Schedule a call with us today.