by Traverse Legal, reviewed by Enrico Schaefer - December 5, 2008 - High-Tech Law Firms
In my previous post, I noted that most law firms today use technology to reduce staff and increase the administrative functions of lawyers. Since technology provides efficiency, the number one question is whether or not lawyers and law firms will take advantage of the efficiency in order to become more productive for their clients.
The answer thus far into the technology age is resounding “no.” Most law firms use technologies to barely reduce their overhead and force administrative tasks on associates and even partners. Clients, for their part, now pay for lawyers to perform administrative tasks by the hour.
It never ceases to amaze me how companies, including law firms, have completely missed the point of technology. Duty of the flat fee system is that lawyers who use technology to engage in high-level activities get to reap the benefit of the efficiencies that they achieve. Lawyers who bill by the hour, simply cause their clients to pay exorbitant rates for what would otherwise secretarial tasks.
The good news for lawyers who “get it” is that their work product and the value they provide to clients is so much higher than their counterparts that they are standing out in the market in terms of quality and timeliness. Is your client really willing to pay for you to process words?
As a founding partner of Traverse Legal, PLC, he has more than thirty years of experience as an attorney for both established companies and emerging start-ups. His extensive experience includes navigating technology law matters and complex litigation throughout the United States.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Enrico Schaefer, who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing Business, IP, and Technology Law litigation attorney.
