Get Your Law Practice on Access with Cloud Computing

Why should you take your law practice into the cloud?  Aside from the record number of businesses doing so, it makes it technologically possible for you to overcome traditional stumbling blocks in practicing law; like limited resources and manpower.

Gone are the days when lawyers need to be caged in the office to do their work and get access to voluminous files and documents.  Technology has made it possible to become more effective and efficient regardless of your physical location.

Welcome to the Future

What does cloud computing bring to the table?  For any sized law firm, the technology offers 3 basic benefits; improved efficiency, better access to files, and reduced cost of operation.  Let’s look at each one.

Improved efficiency in terms of practicing law is achieved with Cloud computing by giving lawyers the ability to become more agile and flexible in their practice.  The many data and management software used with cloud computing gives them the power to collaborate with other lawyers while maintaining constant communication with clients.

No longer do lawyers have to keep running back and forth to file pleadings and other legal documents, everything can be done electronically with the help of cloud computing.  The result, more work is finished with the same number of working hours rendered.

As far as better access to files is concerned, using steel filing cabinets have gone the way of the dinosaurs.  Cloud computing gives lawyers the advantage of accessing files from virtually any locations as long as there is a feasible internet connection.

The better part of this technology is that it is also no longer exclusive to traditional computing.  This means that Cloud computing presents a cross-platform approach allowing lawyers and their clients to access files using any mobile device that can be connected to the Internet.

All of the aforementioned benefits come at a fraction of the cost of using traditional computing or the established manner of practicing law.  Law firms no longer have to earmark a budget for the hiring of additional office staff to take care of document management or get IT experts to handle computing requirements.

The need to purchase and maintain computing equipment is also no longer a necessity.  Why?  Everything from the infrastructure to manpower including technology is handled by the cloud provider.  The end result is a significantly lower operating cost.

Technology Acceptance

There was a time when acceptance of cloud computing technology seemed far from happening.  But, with its prevalence, many are shifting to it especially with the cost-benefits that it presents.  A huge part of the acceptance can be attributed to the advancements in mobile computing.  Making it easier to provide access from almost anywhere without having to carry a laptop can be very convenient.

The great news is that manufacturers of mobile devices are now coming up with newer units that have the computing power comparable to many desktops or laptops.  Even the interfaces are becoming more familiar making it possible even for the less technically inclined lawyer to adapt to it with ease.  Would you be surprised to know that as early as 2010 more mobile devices have been sold than Personal Computers?

The market figures today give credence to the acceptance of cloud computing with as much as 37% of people preferring to access Internet using their mobile devices.  This holds true regardless of your industry or profession.

So why shouldn’t it apply to the practice of law?  Are you aware that in a 2013 Legal Technology Survey conducted by the American Bar Association, 48% of lawyers use tablets with 31% already using Cloud computing, and as many as 91% of lawyers are now on smartphones?

Furthermore, there is no age barrier in the acceptance of the technology.  Even an 80-year old judge can find the use of cloud computing extremely beneficial.  So the next question should be; why isn’t your law practice in the cloud?

Contact NexStep, a reliable application hosting for lawyers to remote computing their sensitive and important documents.