18 A P R I L 2 0 1 7 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m
The following five steps are inspired
by the American Bar Association Check-
list for Purchasing Software for the Law
Office. They are meant to help guide
lawyers to think through decisions related
to their firm's purchase, adoption and
use of software: self-assessment, research,
law firm technologies, test, purchase and
implementation.
1. Self-assessment
Conducting a self-assessment will
help determine the technologies that
will best help your firm more effi-
ciently deliver services to clients and
reach its goals. In conducting your
self-assessment, ask yourself the follow-
ing questions: What is your primary
practice area? What is your current use
and ownership of technology? What are
your future plans for your practice? Are
you mobile? How comfortable are you
and your staff with technology? What is
your budget?
2. Research
After you have completed your self-
assessment, it is important to research
your options before making any
commitments that could become costly
mistakes if rushed into. In order to
identify vendors, software and optimal
options and solutions for your practice,
do not be afraid to reach out to other
practitioners in order to learn from their
experiences. Newsletters and industry-
specific conferences, such as the ABA
Tech Show and the Solo and Small Firm
Conference in Toronto, can also be an
excellent source of information on new
legal technologies and the reputation of
technology companies. Your research
may also uncover potential software
advantages and disadvantages down
the road. For example, if considering
cloud-based service, think about what
would happen if a technology company
goes bankrupt or is acquired. What will
that mean for your data and/or your
user costs? Properly researching your
options will help you take proactive
steps to protect your practice, such
as investigating and understanding a
software vendor's archive policy.
3. Law firm technologies
Once you have researched and reviewed
your options, determine which technol-
ogies you will need to operate your legal
practice. Lawyers require certain categor-
@MonicaNGoyal
L E G A L I N N O VAT I O N N O W
O P I N I O N
lawyer's practice depends on technology. Furthermore, technology is increas-
ingly being used within law practices to streamline legal processes. However,
identifying technologies and implementation requires strategy and possibly
significant investment on the part of the firm. If left to progress in their own
time without some plan or strategy, the implementation of these technolo-
gies and the resulting benefits to the firm and clients may be undermined.
Thus, the purchase and use of technology within firms must be thought-
fully planned and actively managed in order to be successful. For this
reason, it is vital that law firms develop and implement a technology
plan for their practice.
A technology plan allows firms to manage financial investments in new technologies,
reduce overhead related to the adoption of new technologies, adapt to obsolescence of
technological infrastructure and roll out new technologies in a controlled and effective
manner. When developed prudently, a technology plan can help firms remain competi-
tive in today's new legal marketplace.
Buying technology without a plan
is a recipe for failure
By Monica Goyal
A
Implementing
a technology plan
IF LEFT TO PROGRESS
IN THEIR OWN TIME
WITHOUT SOME PLAN
OR STRATEGY, THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF
THESE TECHNOLOGIES
AND THE RESULTING
BENEFITS TO THE FIRM
AND CLIENTS MAY BE
UNDERMINED.
