Technology in law firms

As a one-time IT journalist (you never really escape it), legal IT is close to my heart. This might be because I feel I’ve seen every tech in legal already. Dashboards? Done. Social tools? Seen ‘em. Cloud. Actually, if legal can get past its unique challenges with cloud, that could revolutionise the business.

Our feature is a gallop through tomorrow’s tech, featuring IT leaders at BLP, Clyde & Co, Dentons, DLA Piper, Osborne Clarke, Reed Smith, RPC, Taylor Wessing and Weightmans, as well as insight into ILTA’s upcoming Future Horizons report. Plus we quiz contracts lawyer Chris Hill about what IT should consider before signing anything.

THE TOMORROW MAN

Rupert White talks to Paul Caris, Eversheds’ chief information officer, about the future of legal IT, giving people what they want, whenever and wherever they want it, those famous iPads, ubiquitous connectivity and why the laptop in front of you might be the last your firm ever buys.

EVERYTHING. EVERYWHERE. NOW.

When it comes to technology in legal business, last year’s buzzwords – consumerisation, mobility, cloud and big data – have moved from conference keynotes to current priorities, as have business process improvement and project
management. Joanna Goodman examines the latest developments in legal IT and highlights some of the barriers to progress

ELITE’S NEXT STEPS

Briefing talks to Eric Sugden, chief technology officer for Thomson Reuters Elite, about where the legal IT giant goes next, why mobile is central to the future, and why firms will, one day, live in the cloud.