Law firms of today are facing constant pressure to streamline operations and find new ways to increase productivity. The legal market is ripe for disruption, and the use of legal software tools and technology can help law firms do more with less. [1] New technologies such as artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and machine learning, are having a profound effect on every company. As a result, law firms need to begin exploring how they might leverage emerging technologies to improve their business processes and workflows, starting with simple case management software. With so many vendors offering different solutions for case management, it can be difficult to know where to start in order to achieve optimal performance of daily tasks while reducing operational costs. [2]

What is Case Management?

Case management is the practice of tracking and managing the life cycle of a case (e.g. a dispute between two parties) to identify and address issues that may arise during litigation. Case management software is a computer-based system used for the storage and retrieval of case information. In the legal context, case management is the process of managing tasks from beginning to end. Tasks that are typically managed through case management include organising documents, scheduling events, and tracking the progress of each case. In a nutshell, case management is the process of managing cases from start to finish. It includes organising, monitoring, and reporting on cases and activities related to those cases. Case management software is a computer-based system used for the storage and retrieval of case information. [3]

Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Robotic Process Automation is the use of software to execute repetitive tasks. RPA can be used to automate back-end operations including document scanning, data entry, and email routing. RPA software can be programmed to perform specific tasks, such RPO (Remote Phrasing Outsourcing) work or gathering data from systems such as Salesforce CRM. [4]RPA can be used to perform case management activities such as contacting clients to schedule discovery, reviewing contracts and agreements, and creating letters and email correspondence. RPA software is typically programmed by computer programmers called business engineers.

AI and Case Management

AI capabilities can be leveraged for all sorts of applications, such as speech recognition, machine translation, and image processing. Now, AI is making its way into the law firm world, and lawyers are starting to see how AI can help them get more done in less time. [5] However, AI in the legal sector is not a perfect troubleshooter . While it has tremendous potential, AI is only as good as the data it is given. That means that it is crucial to gather clean, consistent, and organised data in order to enable AI tools for lawyers to facilitate processes and save on costs. Legal case management tools are increasing in popularity as a result.

Case management software with automation capabilities

Case management software that has automation capabilities can be programmed to perform various tasks. For example, the system can be programmed to automatically send email correspondence to clients after a case is created. Or it can be programmed to automatically send email correspondence to the opposing party after they have submitted a response. Automation capabilities are helpful, but they are not designed to replace human interaction. [6] Case management software that has automation capabilities is best suited for repetitive tasks, such as sending emails, creating letters, and scheduling events. Automation capabilities allow an organisation to create rules and set up the system so that certain things happen automatically. For example, it is possible to schedule an event to take place on a certain day at a certain time. Automation capabilities can help you to save time and reduce stress by enabling you to focus on your most important tasks.

Managing cloud-based operations with effective case management

In a nutshell, case management is the process of managing cases from start to finish. It includes organising, monitoring, and reporting on cases and activities related to those cases. Case management software is a computer-based system used for the storage and retrieval of case information. In the legal context, case management is the process of managing tasks from beginning to end. Tasks that are typically managed through case management include organising documents, scheduling events, and tracking the progress of each case. With the introduction of cloud-based technology and the rise of the hybrid model, organisations have an opportunity to improve operational efficiency through enterprise-level case management solutions. Enterprise-level case management solutions allow law firms to leverage the benefits of hosting their software and data in the cloud. This gives firms the ability to scale as needed, which is especially beneficial as firms experience growth. [7]

Leveraging machine learning for effective case management

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can mimic human behavior. AI capabilities can be leveraged for all sorts of applications, such as speech recognition, machine translation, and image processing. [8] Now, AI is making its way into the law firm world, and lawyers are starting to see how AI can help them get more done in less time. However, AI is not a silver bullet that will solve all of your problems by itself. While it has tremendous potential, AI is only as good as the data it is given. That means that it is crucial to gather clean, consistent, and organised data in order to enable AI to assist in saving time and money. [9]

Conclusion

Data is the lifeblood of any organisation, and the legal sector is no exception.  An effective solicitor case management system is reliant on accurate and timely data, which can be used to inform strategic decision-making and help teams prioritise their work. Legal case management systems can be integrated with other enterprise systems to enhance operational efficiency and reduce operational costs as well as help to facilitate collaboration and improve communication among teams. [10] It can also be programmed to monitor key performance indicators such as time to close a case. This can help inform future business strategy and service level agreements.

References

[1]Michael Clavell, Product Manager, Aderant, https://www.aderant.com/think-tank/law-firm-collaboration/ 

[2] Inflation and its Impact on Commercial Law, Fatima Freifer, https://goodlawsoftware.co.uk/inflation-and-its-impact-on-commercial-law 

[3] How to Foster Collaboration in Law Firms While Working Remotely, https://www.amicusattorney.com/blog/how-to-foster-collaboration-in-law-firms-while-working-remotely/ 

[4]Why Every Law Firm Should Have Case Management Software, 3 May 20223 May 2022, https://bmmagazine.co.uk/business/why-every-law-firm-should-have-case-management-software/ 

[5]Collaboration software: how to optimise your legal practice, 6th May, https://www.casedo.com/insights/effective-collaboration/collaboration-software-how-to-optimise-your-legal-practice/ 

[6]How legal departments can create a collaborative approach to improve claims and litigation management across the business, 02 AUGUST, 2019 https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en-gb/expert-insights/how-legal-departments-can-create-a-collaborative-approach-to-improve-claims-and-litigation-managemen 

[7] Thread, 12 Dec 2021, https://www.threadsoftware.ie/effective-collaboration-for-law-firms/ 

[8] Competition Within The Legal Industry, Fatima Freifer, https://goodlawsoftware.co.uk/competition-within-the-legal-industry 

[9] The Main Challenges UK Law Firms Can Expect In 2022, by Fatima Freifer https://goodlawsoftware.co.uk/the-main-challenges-uk-law-firms-can-expect-in-2022 

[10] Heidi K. Gardner, 2015, https://thepractice.law.harvard.edu/article/collaboration-in-law-firms/