The new legal competitive advantage

What should law firms prioritise as we move toward 2023? As new research from legal software provider Clio reveals, the answer above all else is adaptability. Ever-evolving working habits, new client expectations, and challenging market conditions mean that standing still in today’s landscape is the same as going backwards.

Clio’s brand-new Legal Trends Report shows just how profound an impact this constant change is having on law firms. It also highlights how firms can make themselves adaptable (and even antifragile) by adopting legal technology. The right solutions will allow law firms to meet both their clients’ and staff’s expectations – which will play a key role in helping law firms survive in what may be turbulent times ahead.

Why firms must adapt to lawyers’ changing working habits

The pandemic forever changed how lawyers want to work. Indeed, the 2022 Legal Trends Report shows that:

• 44% of lawyers are more likely to want to work throughout the day rather than a traditional 9-to-5 schedule;
• 45% prefer meeting clients virtually;
• 49% of lawyers say they prefer to work from home.

Client expectations also continue to change

While firms must increasingly cater to their lawyers’ working preferences (especially if they want to keep hold of top talent), client demands are also a paramount concern.

The Legal Trends Report found that:

• 35% of clients prefer virtual meetings, compared to 28% who prefer meeting in person;
• 70% of consumers want the option to pay a lawyer via a payment plan;
• 68% want to communicate with their lawyers over the weekend.

The solution? Cloud-based legal software

Cloud-based legal software plays a vital role when it comes to law firm adaptability. These tools enable seamless virtual collaboration between law firm colleagues, and between lawyers and their clients. They automate administrative work – meaning no more precious hours wasted on low-value tasks. In fact, Clio’s research shows that the impact of legal software extends beyond helping lawyers fulfil their work commitments.

Lawyers using cloud-based legal software to manage their practice were:

• 60% more likely to have positive relationships with their clients;
• 44% more likely to have positive relationships with colleagues;
• 29% more likely to be happy with their professional life.

These findings are just a snippet of those contained in Clio’s in-depth 2022 Legal Trends Report, the seventh iteration of this industry-leading publication. Based on aggregated and anonymised data from tens of thousands as well as surveys of thousands of legal professionals and consumers, it highlights some of the most pressing issues facing law firms today.

Get your free copy at clio.com/uk/ltrs