If you own or manage a law firm, you need to ensure that you are making the most of the technology that’s available to you. In fact, something that people often forget is that legal IT is a unique subset of information technology, and it has specific needs.
That means you need the right kind of IT partnership, ideally in the form of a provider that you can trust. Let’s take a look at what IT services for law firms you should require from such a provider.
Time & Billing Software
Good time and billing software lets you track your projects very acutely, allowing you to complete projects on time and on budget. When it comes to its utilisation in a law firm, it is often vital for ensuring that you are charging your clients correctly, and therefore operating your business in the right way.
Look for an IT provider that provides time and billing software as a standard and will work to keep it secure as well.
24/7/365 Service
Your law firm never stops working for your clients, so you need the assistance of an IT provider that never stops either supporting you. Should anything go wrong with one of your systems at four in the morning on Christmas Eve, you need to have it fixed straight away, or your clients could suffer the consequences.
Seek an IT provider that is dedicated to a 24/7/365 service and who provides it at no extra charge—this should be a normal part of the services they offer.
Security Features
A law firm always needs to take great care in keeping their clients’ data secure and in ensuring that their systems do not get hacked by cyber criminals. You should therefore make sure that your IT provider offers an updated range of security features, including:
- File encryption—so that stolen, sensitive files cannot be read.
- Virus protection—to stop the unthinkable happening to your systems during a case.
- Multi factor authentication—to ensure that only authorized personnel can access those sensitive case files.
With better security, your staff will be able to confidently complete their work and your clients can rest easy knowing that their information is safe.
Scalability & Shrinkability
Your law firm might go through periods of growth and shrinkage. When that happens, you need all of your systems to suit the size of your company accordingly. This isn’t necessarily standard of all IT providers to offer, which is why you need to be on the lookout for an IT provider whose systems are able to adapt and change to meet your law firm’s needs.
With a decent IT managed services provider (MSP), the systems can grow and shrink with your business, all at a perfectly reasonable price.
As you can see, there are a few important things to look out for when your law firm is shopping around for an IT provider. Seek out these services in particular, and you should find that your law firm will be more capable of providing the best possible services to your clients.