11 Best Legal Tech Companies of 2024

Legal tech is changing how law firms work, even as we speak. With the emergence of these modern solutions, integrating more intuitive tools into your law firm has become necessary.

However, budgets are limited, and there are many legal tech tools from which to choose.

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 11 best legal tech companies worth investing in.

1. Briefpoint.ai

Briefpoint.ai takes away the burden of one of the most repetitive legal processes: discovery document preparation.

When done manually, law firms would typically have to spend hours–if not days–on drafting discovery documents. And that’s just one part of the tedious discovery process.

With Briefpoint’s generative AI, legal teams can draft discovery response documents in minutes. These include but are not limited to responses to requests for admission, requests for production, and interrogatories.

The process is as simple as it can be: law firms just have to upload their opposing counsel’s requests, select objections and responses, and download the draft in Word.

Briefpoint.ai saves legal professionals thousands of dollars every year. More importantly, lawyers and paralegals can spend the extra time on more impactful and engaging work.

2. Clio

Clio has long been the answer for law firms and legal professionals looking for a simple yet effective practice management system. Its comprehensive suite is remarkably user-friendly and accessible to a broad range of professionals, regardless of their technical expertise. It includes:

Case management
Billing
Client communications
Document management

As a cloud-based litigation platform, Clio offers the flexibility required in today’s legal environment and allows work to be conducted from virtually anywhere.

This adaptability is especially valuable given the increasing shift towards remote and flexible working arrangements.

3. CaseText

CaseText offers a fresh approach to legal research. It leverages advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to sift through vast databases of legal documents, cases, and statutes.

What sets CaseText apart is its CARA AI feature, which allows users to upload legal briefs or documents, and then it automatically finds related cases and legal texts. This makes it easier to tailor the research process to the specific context of each user’s needs.

CaseText is also geared towards making the entire research process more intuitive and less time-consuming. The user interface is clean and straightforward, making navigation a breeze even for those who might not be tech-savvy.

Additionally, it offers tools for citation checking and analysis so that legal professionals can trust the accuracy and relevance of the information they’re using.

4. Everlaw

Everlaw is for law firms that need advanced discovery and litigation support solutions. Its platform is known for merging cutting-edge technology with an intuitive design to manage the complexities of legal document analysis and case preparation efficiently.

Its tools are designed to simplify the electronic discovery process. This includes powerful search capabilities, document review, and case management features, all of which aim to make it easier to sort through vast amounts of data and find relevant information quickly.

What’s also great about Everlaw is how it champions team collaboration. The platform includes tools for annotation, tagging, and sharing documents, enabling team members to work together regardless of their physical location.

5. LawVu

LawVu combines multiple aspects of legal operations into one convenient platform. This approach is meant to address the specific needs of in-house corporate legal departments and improve the efficiency, collaboration, and overall management of legal matters.

The platform features modules for matter management, contract management, and outside counsel oversight. These integrations help your firm better understand recurring legal workflows and, ultimately, become more organized.

Plus, LawVu’s platform includes advanced analytics and reporting capabilities, which allow legal services to get a clear grasp of their operations, assess performance, and make data-driven decisions to improve their services.

6. LeanLaw

LeanLaw is a smart solution for smaller and mid-sized law firms looking to mesh their legal practice needs with solid accounting.

By teaming up with QuickBooks Online, LeanLaw taps into powerful accounting tools and makes the whole financial side of running a law firm—from keeping track of billable hours to keeping an eye on the firm’s finances—a lot smoother and more straightforward.

LeanLaw also offers a package for organizing client details and internal resources, so everything you need is just a few clicks away.

Plus, with its built-in tools for digging into your firm’s data, you can get a clear picture of where you’re making money, how your team is doing, and what moves you might need to make next. For law firms that are already working with QuickBooks Online and need a better way to bring their legal and financial operations together, LeanLaw stands out as a go-to choice.

7. Smokeball

Smokeball is legal practice management software geared specifically towards small law firms and solo practitioners. It focuses on streamlining repetitive legal processes, which can reduce the time lawyers spend on administrative work.

The best part of Smokeball is its case management feature, which organizes all aspects of a case — from documents and emails to contacts and calendars — in one easily accessible place. This means less time searching for information and more time focusing on the legal work itself.

Billing and time tracking are other areas where Smokeball excels. It automatically tracks the time spent on each task and integrates this with its billing system, which simplifies the invoicing process and makes sure that no billable hour goes unrecorded.

8. Ironclad

Ironclad is a complete and scalable solution for teams drowning in contracts and looking for a better way to get things done. The contract management tool automates the creation, execution, and management of contracts.

Ironclad also keeps all your contracts in one spot. No more digging through emails or folders to find what you need. Everything’s secure and easy to find, which is a lifesaver for businesses processing routine contracts.

In addition, this tool can integrate with other tools you’re already using. Its integration capabilities make sure that contract management becomes a cohesive part of the broader business ecosystem and leads to smoother workflows across departments.

9. MyCase

MyCase is a legal practice management software that simplifies legal workflows and keeps them running smoothly. It tackles everything from case management and client communications to billing and time tracking into one neat platform. This means lawyers can spend less time juggling different tools and more time focusing on their clients’ needs.

With MyCase, everything you need to run your law practice is right there in one easy-to-use interface. Whether you’re scheduling meetings, managing case files, or processing payments, it’s all there.

MyCase is also great when it comes to keeping clients in the loop. It offers secure messaging, updates on case progress, and easy online payment options, which helps law firms improve their client relationships by keeping communication clear and straightforward.

10. CoCounsel

CoCounsel, powered by Casetext, is another innovative legal tech tool. This AI-driven assistant is groundbreaking for several reasons, notably its ability to offer legal support across a range of tasks that traditionally require hours of human effort.

It is designed to understand and execute a variety of legal tasks, from legal research and drafting documents to reviewing contracts and summarizing case files.

What makes it a top contender is its sophisticated AI technology, which allows it to process and analyze legal information with unmatched efficiency and accuracy. This is a boon for legal professionals who are often under tight deadlines and need to juggle multiple cases simultaneously.

Powered by Casetext’s extensive legal database, it leverages the latest in AI legal technology to fine-tune its capabilities and offer more personalized and accurate assistance over time. Plus, they offer rapid response services for global operations.

11. UniCourt

UniCourt is a legal tech service that simplifies how law firms get their hands on and use legal data. It’s a go-to resource for law firms, businesses, and anyone who needs quick access to court records and insights into legal trends.

The best feature of UniCourt is how it brings all kinds of legal data together under one roof. Whether you’re keeping tabs on a specific case, digging into legal precedents, or trying to spot trends in litigation, UniCourt lets you do it all without the need to jump between different databases. This can be a massive time saver, especially if you need the latest info without the hassle.

Aside from accessing data, Unicourt helps you manage it better. You can set up alerts to track cases automatically, so you’re always in the loop with real-time updates without constantly checking in manually.

Automate Discovery Drafting with Briefpoint.ai

Artificial intelligence is designed to eliminate the most tedious legal workflows. So, why not start with the most time-consuming tasks?

Briefpoint uses the power of generative AI to draft discovery documents for you.

The platform is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. Plus, we offer ongoing consultation to make sure you’re using Briefpoint to its full capabilities.

The Best Legal Technology Company for Discovery Documents

Discovery responses cost firms $23,240, per year, per attorney. $23,240 estimate assumes an associate attorney salary of $150,000 (including benefits – or $83 an hour), 20 cases per year/per associate, 4 discovery sets per case, 30 questions per set, 3.5 hours spent responding to each set, and 1800 hours of billable hours per year.

Under these assumptions, you save $20,477 using Briefpoint, per year, per attorney.

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.

FAQs About Legal Service Providers

What is legal tech, and how does it benefit legal professionals and their clients?

Legal tech refers to the use of technology and software to provide legal services and support the operation of law firms and legal departments. Legal tech benefits legal professionals by streamlining workflows, reducing the time and cost associated with traditional legal processes, and enhancing the accuracy of legal documents and research.

For clients, legal tech can lead to quicker resolutions of legal matters, improved access to legal services, and, often, lower costs.

Can legal tech replace lawyers?

While legal tech improves the efficiency and effectiveness of legal services, it is not designed to replace lawyers. Instead, it serves as a tool to assist lawyers in their work.

Technology can automate repetitive tasks and manage large volumes of data, but the nuanced judgment, ethical considerations, and client advocacy provided by human lawyers are beyond its current capabilities.

How is AI being used in legal tech, and what are its limitations?

AI in legal tech is primarily used for automating document analysis, conducting legal research, predicting legal outcomes, and improving client service through chatbots and other interactive tools. It can sift through vast amounts of legal data to identify patterns, suggest relevant case law, and even draft legal documents.

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Hiring a Virtual Legal Assistant in Your Law Firm

Is your legal team drowning in administrative work? Instead of hiring an in-house employee, why not hire a virtual legal assistant?

Virtual legal assistants (VLAs) are just like legal secretaries or legal assistants, except they work remotely. This kind of setup makes VLAs more flexible than on-site employees, and depending on what kind of assistance you need, they can be more cost-effective.

In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know before hiring a legal virtual assistant, including their tasks, the benefits of having one, and how to find the perfect virtual assistant for your firm.

What is a Virtual Legal Assistant?

A virtual legal assistant is a remote employee who helps lighten the workload of law firms.

A VLA can handle a lot of the day-to-day grind, like sorting out legal documents, digging up research to back up cases, chatting with clients, scheduling meetings, and keeping track of billing.

Virtual legal assistants don’t have the geographical and time limitations that in-office assistants have, which means they can do work for you anytime and from anywhere.

What makes them fit for the job is that they’re built or trained specifically for legal work. This means they’re familiar with legal jargon, processes, and, importantly, keeping things confidential.

What Do Legal Virtual Assistants Do?

Legal virtual assistants take on a variety of tasks that help law firms run more smoothly and efficiently. These may include:

Document Preparation and Management

Many virtual legal assistants draft and prepare essential legal documents, including contracts, wills, and pleadings. They often start from templates or under the direction of an attorney to make sure each document is tailored to specific legal requirements.

Another important thing they do is review these documents for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with local laws and regulations. However, your VLA may initially need supervision from an attorney or paralegal.

Additionally, virtual legal assistants organize and manage electronic filing systems, ensuring all documents are securely stored and easily retrievable.

Legal document management includes handling the e-filing processes with the court and seeing to it that all submissions meet the necessary deadlines and requirements.

Legal Research

In some law firms, a remote legal assistant is part of the research process. These assistants delve into case law, statutes, and legal articles to gather precedents and other relevant materials that support an attorney’s argument.

Their research isn’t limited to just legal theories, they also stay up to date on regulatory changes that could impact ongoing and future cases, particularly in dynamic fields like corporate, employment, and environmental law.

Plus, VLAs fact-check all documents to ensure that every citation, reference, and factual claim is accurate and properly sourced, which helps maintain the integrity of legal practice.

Client Communication

Many lawyers simply don’t have time to communicate with clients directly, and they often leave that task to virtual legal assistants.

They often serve as the first point of contact for clients, setting up initial meetings and handling routine inquiries. This role extends to managing ongoing communications, keeping clients informed about the status of their cases, and making sure they feel supported throughout the legal process.

In this way, virtual assistants help maintain strong, trust-based relationships between clients and the law firm, which can contribute to higher client satisfaction and retention rates.

Case Management

Virtual legal assistant services are excellent when it comes to keeping cases organized and on track. VLAs keep all the case-related documents and emails tidy and up to date in a digital file system.

They’re also on top of all the important dates and deadlines, making sure that everyone involved knows what’s due and when so nothing slips through the cracks.

This kind of support is a must for keeping cases moving smoothly and helping lawyers stay focused on the legal work rather than administrative tasks.

Meeting Coordination

Like a standard virtual assistant, a legal virtual assistant can coordinate meetings for lawyers. They schedule everything from client consultations to team strategy sessions. Also, they make sure everyone has the info they need, such as the time, place, and agenda ahead of time.

If there’s a hiccup, like a need for a video call setup or a last-minute room change, a VLA is on it to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

Time Management

Many lawyers are so busy that they don’t even have time to manage their own time. This is where a virtual legal assistant can come in handy.

VLAs can monitor the clock, track billable hours, and ensure that all time spent on a client’s work is recorded accurately. Such time management helps the firm stay transparent with clients about billing and ensures that the firm captures all the revenue it’s entitled to.

Social Media Management

A VLA can take charge of creating and organizing content that aligns with your firm’s branding and communication goals. This involves drafting posts, curating images, and even creating basic graphics.

Plus, they can schedule these posts for optimal times so that your content reaches your audience when they are most active.

A VLA can also monitor these platforms, track responses to posts, and engage with comments and messages. Responding to inquiries and comments helps maintain a positive and professional image for your firm, which can help build trust and engagement with potential and existing clients.

Does Your Law Firm Need a Virtual Legal Assistant?

There are many clear signs that your firm needs administrative support, but they may not always be obvious. Here are some signs that it might be time to find a virtual legal assistant:

You’re Overwhelmed with Administrative Tasks

If you or your staff find yourselves swamped with paperwork, scheduling, and other routine administrative duties, a VLA can help lighten the load.

Missed Deadlines Are Becoming an Issue

Missing deadlines can lead to lost revenue and dissatisfied clients. If your firm struggles with keeping track of all the critical dates and deadlines across multiple cases, a virtual assistant could help manage your calendars more effectively.

Client Communications Aren’t as Timely as They Should Be

Timely and effective communication is key to maintaining client satisfaction and trust. If responding to client queries, scheduling follow-ups, or keeping clients informed about their case status is overwhelming your current staff, you need a VLA to take over.

You’re Looking to Cut Operational Costs

Hiring full-time staff is expensive, especially when considering salaries, benefits, and other overheads. A VLA can perform many of the same functions at a fraction of the cost, which can provide a cost-effective solution to your staffing needs.

Your Firm Is Scaling Quickly

If your firm is growing faster than you can hire qualified staff, or if you are dealing with fluctuating workloads, VLAs offer a scalable solution. They can adjust more easily to increased demands without the need for significant changes to physical office space or long-term employee contracts.

Inefficiency Is Stifling Your Firm’s Growth

If inefficiency is holding back your firm’s potential—whether it’s due to outdated processes, slow document handling, or poor time management—a VLA might be just what you need to streamline operations and boost productivity.

The Benefits of Virtual Legal Assistant Services

While virtual legal assistants typically take over background tasks, their work offers significant benefits for your legal services. Hiring a virtual legal assistant can give your firm the following:

Increased Productivity

VLAs free up lawyers and paralegals to focus on more complex, billable work by taking over routine and time-consuming tasks. This shift can significantly increase a firm’s overall productivity and allow legal professionals to concentrate on case strategy and client advocacy.

Cost Efficiency

Employing a VLA is generally more cost-effective than hiring additional full-time staff. They can be engaged on a flexible basis, and you can scale their services up or down based on the firm’s current needs. This is particularly beneficial for smaller firms or those experiencing fluctuating workloads.

Better Client Service

VLAs can manage client communications and respond to all client inquiries quickly. This level of responsiveness improves client satisfaction and can improve the reputation of the firm, which can ultimately lead to more referrals.

They also help maintain organized client records and follow-ups so that no details are missed and that clients feel valued and well-served.

Improved Accuracy and Compliance

A good virtual legal assistant can improve the precision of critical legal tasks like billing, case reporting, and legal filings. VLAs see to it that everything adheres to legal standards and meets deadlines.

Such attention to detail minimizes the risk of mistakes and reduces the likelihood of penalties due to non-compliance.

Positive Work-Life Balance

Burnout can affect even the best lawyers, and the legal profession is notorious for coming with heavy workloads. If your lawyers are suffering from poor work-life balance, it may be time to find legal support.

VLAs allow legal professionals to manage their workloads more effectively, which can promote better work-life balance. In turn, this can lead to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover rates among staff.

What to Look For in a Legal Virtual Assistant

Once you know what your legal practice needs, it’s time to find a VLA who will complement your firm. Finding the perfect virtual legal assistant can be easy if you know what to look for.

Here are some important skills and characteristics a virtual legal assistant should have:

Legal Expertise and Experience: The ideal VLA should have a background in legal work or a good understanding of the legal industry. This includes familiarity with legal terminology, procedures, and the specific needs of a law firm.
Strong Technological Skills: Since much of a VLA’s work will be digital, proficiency in technology is non-negotiable. They should be adept with legal software tools, case management systems, and office software. The ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and platforms is a huge plus.
Communication Skills: Whether it’s writing emails, handling phone calls, or drafting documents, excellent communication skills are a must. A VLA must be able to convey information clearly and professionally to clients, court personnel, and within the firm.
Attention to Detail: Legal work often requires a high level of accuracy. A VLA must have a keen eye for detail to manage documentation, scheduling, and compliance without errors. This is important in avoiding costly mistakes that could impact legal outcomes or client relationships.
Organizational Skills: Effective organizational skills are vital as VLAs often handle multiple tasks and manage various streams of information at once. Being organized helps make sure that no task is overlooked and that it is systematically managed.
Problem-Solving Abilities: The ability to troubleshoot issues independently and come up with effective solutions is a valuable skill for a VLA. This includes everything from resolving scheduling conflicts to navigating complex document requirements or compliance issues.

Equip Your Legal Assistant With Briefpoint

A virtual legal assistant can take over the most tedious administrative tasks, and the most time-consuming among them is discovery document preparation. However, this doesn’t mean that your assistant should do it manually.

Briefpoint.ai is a generative artificial intelligence tool that drafts discovery response and request documents for you. Instead of spending hours or even days drafting these legal documents, your virtual legal assistant can use Briefpoint to generate them in minutes.

Automate the Discovery Process With Briefpoint

Under these assumptions, you save $20,477 using Briefpoint, per year, per attorney.

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.

FAQs About Virtual Legal Assistants

Can virtual legal assistants handle sensitive information?

Yes, with proper security measures in place, VLAs can securely manage sensitive information.

How much does a virtual legal assistant cost?

Costs vary depending on the services provided and the assistant’s expertise level, but they are generally more cost-effective than full-time employees.

Are virtual legal assistants reliable?

Absolutely, especially when you choose well-trained professionals who understand the legal field. However, you still need to do your due diligence in selecting the right employee.

How to Reduce Litigation Costs Without Cutting Corners

Litigation almost always requires significant legal resources. Major litigation projects take hundreds–if not thousands–of work hours. There are also court fees, travel expenses, administrative costs, and other related expenses, which can add up to hefty bills.

With these costs in mind, maintaining law firm profitability often goes hand in hand with reducing litigation costs. However, how can you do this without sacrificing the quality of your legal services?

Here are several tried-and-tested strategies to save money on litigation:

1. Simplify Your Legal Team Structure

Reducing litigation costs starts with simplifying your team and playing up to each member’s strengths. These methods can help your team operate more efficiently, which, in turn, can help you reduce labor expenses:

Rely More on Senior Team Members

Senior team members stand out as significant legal assets. Their experience and diverse skills allow them to handle major components of your case with care.

More specifically, they apply their deep knowledge of law in a way that reduces the need to redo work and saves money.

Assign Junior Team Members to Specific Tasks

Assign tasks that match the skill level of people in junior or entry-level legal positions. This may include research, document review, or compilation of discovery materials.

This strategy prevents you from paying high fees for basic duties. It also supports the growth of new team members who will later manage important litigation projects.

Maintain Lean Legal Teams

Try to curate a smaller, focused litigation team. A solid team structure, with fewer yet efficient members, leads to lower legal costs than larger teams.

At the same time, a focus on a minimal workload allows faster and more cost-effective task management.

2. Plan Thoroughly

A solid overall litigation strategy forms the foundation for cost-effective litigation. It breaks down each stage of the process and assigns tasks with purpose. Here’s a closer look at what this involves:

Adopt a Well-Defined Litigation Plan

Having a clear game plan for your litigation can make a huge difference. Decide on your main goal right from the start—whether you’re aiming for a quick settlement or going all the way to trial.

Stick to this goal and avoid any unnecessary legal steps that don’t help you get there. The focused approach saves both time and money by keeping you on track and avoiding detours.

Prepare a Detailed Strategy Outline

It pays to think ahead and consider what might not go as planned. Look into every corner of your case early on. Spotting potential problems before they blow up means you can handle them when they’re still small and manageable.

Outline your strategy step by step, from gathering evidence to how you’ll present your case, so you’re ready for whatever comes your way.

Set Clear Due Dates

Speed and efficiency can save you a lot in the long run. Set clear deadlines for every part of the process and make sure everyone involved knows what’s expected of them. This keeps things moving smoothly and prevents costly delays.

When everyone is clear on their roles and timelines, it cuts down on confusion and wasted effort.

3. Focus on Efficient Litigation Processes

Coordinating litigation processes with efficiency as a top priority can help reduce costs and save resources. There are several strategies that businesses can adopt to achieve this:

Batch Tasks During Active Periods

Grouping similar tasks together and tackling them in one go can smooth out your workload during busy periods. This approach, known as batching, leverages the momentum and focus you already have.

Whether it’s scheduling multiple depositions on the same day or consolidating document reviews, batching can significantly cut down on time and associated costs.

Encourage Sharing Work Product

When team members reuse research, briefs, and document templates, it eliminates the need to redo work that’s already been done.

Encouraging this kind of collaboration requires a shift in mindset and perhaps even some changes in how information is stored and accessed, but the payoff in terms of efficiency and cost savings can be substantial.

Prioritize Discovery

In litigation, discovery can be one of the most time-consuming and expensive phases. Tailoring the discovery process to the specific needs of your case helps avoid spending time and resources gathering unnecessary information.

Focus on what’s truly relevant by defining key issues and targeting discovery efforts accordingly. This targeted approach ensures that efforts and costs are invested only where they are most likely to be beneficial.

4. Make Smart Investments Upfront

Choosing the right places to put your money in can help you make sure that those investments will pay off in the long run. Here are some things you should consider:

Set Up a Solid Litigation Budget

Putting some money aside early on for a thorough litigation budget is a smart play for any legal team.

This step gives you a clear picture of potential costs right from the start, helping you avoid any nasty surprises later on.

Do Your Due Diligence Early

Diving deep into all aspects of the case early can save you a lot of headaches and cash later.

Catching issues at the beginning is usually cheaper and easier to deal with than trying to fix them when you’re deep into the process.

5. Leverage Legal Tech

The latest legal technology offers innovative ways to tackle daily tasks more efficiently and usually at a lower cost. Legal tech can transform how your team operates, improve productivity, and reduce overhead.

Use Legal Tech to Streamline Tasks

Integrating cutting-edge technology into your legal processes can radically improve how you handle routine tasks.

These tech tools are designed to expedite time-consuming jobs, allowing legal departments to devote more energy to the crucial, strategic aspects of your cases.

Implement Document Automation Software

Investing in document automation software can dramatically cut down the time spent on creating and managing legal documents. Instead of starting from scratch every time, your team can use pre-designed templates and automate repetitive tasks like populating standard forms.

This kind of legal software not only speeds up document preparation but also reduces the possibility of errors, which can help make your workflow smoother and more reliable.

Reduce Litigation Costs with the Right Legal Tech Tool

The discovery process is often the most time-consuming part of litigation. That said, it’s also one of the most expensive.

Briefpoint.ai is the legal tech tool to start with if you want to save a significant amount of money on litigation.

With Briefpoint’s generative artificial intelligence, you can cut down your discovery document prep time to minutes instead of hours–that means thousands of savings a year and more time for profitable work.

Save Thousands on Litigation with Briefpoint AI

Under these assumptions, you save $20,477 using Briefpoint, per year, per attorney.

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.

FAQs About Reducing Litigation Costs

How can senior team members contribute to reducing legal spend in litigation?

Senior team members create a strategic litigation plan early. Their experience helps avoid unnecessary legal fees. They also guide efficient efforts during the case’s most active periods. This careful planning makes sure work is done at a minimum, which saves you money.

Why is it important to do a reasonable investigation early in the legal process?

An early investigation can spot potential issues. When a team overlooks early investigation, it often leads to more work later. Addressing problems promptly saves both time and money for clients.

How can developing a detailed litigation plan in the first few months impact costs?

A detailed plan early on has a big impact. It identifies critical case aspects and manages resources well. Focusing on critical issues early avoids costly litigation. It reduces the need to redo work later, which makes handling cases more cost-effective.

Top 9 Legal Operations Trends of 2024

As we approach the second half of 2024, the legal sector continues to witness significant transformation driven by legal technology, changing regulatory landscapes, and shifting business needs.

Thanks to these developments, day-to-day activities in law firms and legal departments are now faster, easier, and more profitable than ever. All that said, adopting technology solutions has become a necessity for legal teams that want to stay competitive.

Let’s take a closer look at the biggest legal operations trends of this year:

1. Legal Technology is Taking Over Operations

Back then, legal tech tools were only nice-to-haves. In today’s more competitive legal landscape, these tech solutions have become necessary.

Automation and data analytics tools are leading this huge shift to modernized legal tech. Automation transforms repetitive and time-consuming tasks into faster, more consistent processes. These can include anything from document preparation to administrative tasks like scheduling and billing.

Data analytics is also making a big splash. With these tools, law firms can dig into big data to pull out useful insights that inform better decision-making.

Accessibility is another huge plus. With online legal services and virtual law offices, it’s getting easier for more people and small businesses to get legal help without breaking the bank.

2. Alternative Fee Arrangements

Law firms are opening up to innovative financial solutions. The age-old tradition of hourly rates for lawyers is falling out of favor.

In its place, alternative fee arrangements are making headway. These new pricing strategies promise better cost control, which firms find attractive. On the flip side, alternative fee arrangements give clients predictable legal costs and better budget management

This shift reflects the changes in the legal landscape where value and predictability in billing take center stage for clients and their legal service providers.

3. Vendor Management

Vendor management tools have made it much easier for law firms to handle relationships with outside lawyers. These tools keep things organized and make sure that these external lawyers are up to scratch with the department’s standards.

They’re also great for keeping an eye on the money side of things. By tracking spending, these tools help legal departments see where their money is going and ensure they’re getting good value for their legal spending.

4. Greater Emphasis on Data Security

Data security has always been a significant concern in the legal industry. Many legal departments face more frequent cyber threats, which is why investing in security technology has become standard practice. The goal is straightforward: safeguard all data.

To achieve this, in-house legal departments undergo information governance training to equip every team member with information on how to protect data. This collective effort secures the safety of client and internal data.

5. Remote Work Continues

Remote work has become the norm for many legal departments, meaning that geography isn’t the obstacle it used to be. Now, collaborative tools are key.

They keep teams connected and make it possible for legal operations professionals to work together from anywhere.

To sustain this model, it’s important to nurture supportive environments and avoid barriers to remote work, such as security concerns, communication issues, and isolation. Such environments cater to the well-being and productivity of all team members.

6. Increased Focus on Regulatory Compliance

Compliance has always been a non-negotiable for in-house lawyers. The industry’s laws and regulations constantly evolve, so staying current is a must.

Regulatory compliance tools now offer invaluable assistance. They keep track of these changes and shed light on new legal requirements.

Today’s modern legal department navigates the legal terrain through proactive strategies and using tech tools as one of them. Such measures make sure that they stay on top of regulatory shifts as the demands for strict compliance increase.

7. Project Management Tools Gain Popularity

Project management software has become an indispensable tool in legal operations these days, thanks to a bunch of useful tools that help manage legal projects.

These tools make it a lot easier to plan and keep track of everything and make sure teams can stick to their schedules without a hitch. Effective project management means resources are used wisely, which helps teams hit their targets right on time.

8. Collaboration Between Legal and Other Departments

Corporate legal departments in contemporary organizations do not operate in silos; cooperation with other departments is more important than ever. Better results come from effective teamwork, which can also help preempt potential issues.

The increasing need for inter-departmental collaboration makes specific tools necessary. They make information sharing easier and create a more collaborative business process among the legal team.

As such, involvement from all departments in alleviating business bottlenecks is critical. It’s evident that collaboration will continue to dictate key trends in legal operations.

9. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration

AI is an influential force that transforms routine legal tasks. It boosts both speed and accuracy while significantly cutting down manual labor in legal operations teams.

Integration of AI into legal tech solutions is on the rise. Tasks like document sorting, which once were tedious, are now effortlessly automated. Plus, AI holds the power to predict outcomes rooted in historical data, which paves the way for decisions based on informed insights.

In fact, AI in the legal tech market is projected to grow by 35% annually over the next five years.

Stay Ahead of the Competition With Artificial Intelligence

Innovation drives the legal field today, and if you don’t want to play catch-up with other law firms, it’s time to embrace one of the best legal tools of all: artificial intelligence.

Stop letting the discovery phase consume more work hours than it has to, and start using Briefpoint.ai. With generative artificial intelligence, Briefpoint lets you create discovery response and request documents in mere minutes.

Save money, maintain consistency, and let your lawyers work on more important tasks all at the same time.

Let Briefpoint Transform Your Discovery Process

Under these assumptions, you save $20,477 using Briefpoint, per year, per attorney.

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.

FAQs About Legal Operations Trends

How do legal tech tools help legal departments?

Legal tech tools simplify legal functions for law firms and corporate law departments. They take care of the routine jobs, which allows the team to zero in on key tasks. The ultimate goal? To get better results faster.

What’s the point of alternative fee arrangements?

Alternative fee arrangements, not just hours logged, focus on the value of legal work offered. This approach brings expenses under predictable control and makes financial management easier. Essentially, it shifts the spotlight onto the benefits provided by legal professionals.

How can legal professionals benefit from remote work?

Remote work introduces flexibility and a better balance between personal life and work. With the right tech for security and collaboration, it’s a game-changer. Plus, it’s a magnet for keeping talent in the team.

Types of Legal Tech for Litigation

Many legal professionals will agree that litigation is one of the most difficult practice areas to find success in, whether it’s civil or criminal. It’s also worth noting that there’s so much at stake with litigation, including money, your client’s fate, and the law firm’s reputation.

But if there’s one thing successful lawyers will agree on, it’s that every law firm needs to adapt to technology as it changes.

In this guide, we will be going into one of the most important fields of legal tech: litigation tools. Discover the types of legal tech tools for litigation, the benefits of using such products, and how you can integrate them into your practice to serve clients even better.

Types of Legal Technologies for Litigation

The legal tech industry solves hundreds of problems for law firms, which span across multiple aspects of the legal profession, including litigation. Here are types of legal tech that are particularly useful for law firms that focus on litigation, as well as arbitration or mediation:

Discovery Document Generation

Most law firms agree that the most tedious part of litigation is the discovery process. When done entirely manually, it can take hours to draft even the simplest discovery documents.

Legal tech companies like Briefpoint.ai are helping get rid of this roadblock by using generative artificial intelligence to help legal professionals draft discovery response and request documents in minutes.

For example, Briefpoint uses AI and machine learning to process discovery request .pdfs to generate response documents rapidly. This eliminates the need for users to have to recreate each request in a new Word document, type or copy-and-paste each objection to the requests, and insert the client’s response.

Case Management Software

This type of software provides a centralized platform for managing case files, documents, contacts, calendars, and communications. It helps lawyers keep track of deadlines, court dates, and client information to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

Case management software is essential in all types of legal work, but especially for litigation that involves hundreds (if not thousands) of tasks, documents, and communications.

Legal professionals can use this platform to stay on top of their cases and seamlessly collaborate with the rest of their team.

Legal Research Platforms

Gone are the days of poring over physical law reporters and legal tomes. Today’s legal research tools offer powerful databases and AI-driven search features to help lawyers find relevant case laws, statutes, regulations, and legal articles quickly.

They often include features like citation tracking, analysis of legal trends, and predictive insights on case outcomes.

Communication and Collaboration Platforms

Effective communication is vital in litigation, not just within the legal team but also with clients and other stakeholders.

Modern communication tools for legal departments offer secure messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration features. These features are must-haves for seamless interactions regardless of physical location.

Trial Presentation Software

This type of technology allows lawyers to organize, manage, and present evidence and arguments in a compelling way during trials.

Most trial presentation tools support a variety of media types, including documents, photos, videos, and audio recordings, and allow for real-time presentation of evidence to the courtroom.

Litigation Analytics

Litigation analytics tools provide clear, data-driven insights that can significantly impact a case’s strategy and outcome.

These tools sift through vast amounts of data from past court decisions, judge rulings, and litigation histories to give litigation attorneys a strategic edge in the courtroom that they would have to spend more time achieving otherwise.

How Can Legal Tech Help Litigation?

The legal industry is becoming more and more accepting of technology as it continues to evolve–and for all the right reasons. From a wider point of view, legal technology makes workflows easier, faster, and overall more efficient.

But if we look closer, the benefits of legal technology for litigation are clearer:

Maximizing Operational Efficiency

Legal technology introduces automation in various facets of litigation, including document management, billing, and case tracking.

This automation reduces the time legal professionals spend on administrative tasks, which allows them to allocate more resources toward critical thinking and case strategy development.

The result? Law firms can handle cases more effectively, reduce delays, and improve the overall quality of their legal services.

Improving Accuracy and Risk Mitigation

Legal tech tools minimize the potential for human error by reducing the reliance on manual processes.

Automated document generation, for example, ensures consistency and accuracy in legal filings, reducing the risk of mistakes that could lead to delays or negative legal outcomes.

Plus, litigation analytics can help identify potential risks and outcomes based on historical data, allowing for better-informed decision-making.

Refining Discovery and Evidence Management

Automated discovery tools are designed to handle vast amounts of electronic data and allow legal teams to efficiently identify, collect, and analyze relevant information.

This feature is an absolute must in a digital age where evidence often resides in electronic formats. Advanced search algorithms and analytics can uncover crucial pieces of evidence that might be overlooked manually, which can offer a strategic advantage in litigation.

Reducing Costs

While the initial investment in legal tech may be significant, the long-term savings are substantial. Law firms can reduce overhead costs just by simply automating routine tasks and improving efficiency.

Additionally, the precision and speed of legal tech tools can decrease the duration of litigation, which further cuts down expenses that often come with prolonged or delayed cases.

Upgrading Client Satisfaction

When you consider the benefits of legal technology, you can see that using legal technology contributes to higher levels of client satisfaction.

Clients benefit from quicker responses, more transparent communication, and potentially faster resolutions to their cases. More importantly, the ability to provide detailed insights and data-driven strategies can reinforce clients’ confidence in their legal representation.

Increasing Law Firm Profitability

Positive case outcomes almost always result in better law firm profitability, and that’s what both lawyers and clients want. Software solutions can increase the chances of a positive verdict via better legal research, stronger evidence, or even the absence of errors.

In turn, lawyers get their win, and happy clients are likely to bring in more potential clients to the law firm through word-of-mouth. Either way, the winning law firm will see a positive effect on their bottom line.

Best Legal Tech Litigation Tools Every Law Firm Should Have

While legal tech in general can yield positive results for a law firm, not all legal tech products are made equal. Legal practitioners still have to be selective when choosing the right stack of tools, especially when it comes to something as crucial as litigation.

Here’s a list of some of the best litigation tools to help you narrow down your search:

1. Briefpoint.ai

Briefpoint.ai is a document automation tool that helps lawyers and other legal professionals prepare discovery response and request documents.

Unlike manual preparation, users can generate legal documents with both speed and accuracy, which cuts hours or even days off the discovery phase.

Briefpoint.ai can help you draft responses to and propounding sets of the following documents:

Requests for Production
Requests for Admission
Interrogatories

In addition, the process is simple, so you won’t have to worry about a steep learning curve. You just have to upload your discovery request, plug in your responses or objections, and then export the document to Word to finish up there.

2. Clio

Clio is always going to be the go-to for case and practice management. It offers features that cover everything from document management and time tracking to billing and client communication.

Plus, everything is on a cloud-based system, which allows easy access to case files and information from anywhere.

It has excellent time tracking and billing capabilities. The platform’s intuitive time-tracking functionality allows legal professionals to accurately log billable hours directly into the system, which helps reduce the risk of lost revenue due to unrecorded time.

Coupled with its advanced billing system, Clio lets users create detailed, customizable invoices that reflect all billable activities and expenses associated with a case.

3. Lex Machina

Lex Machina is known for transforming raw legal data into strategic insights. This platform mines litigation data from a vast array of sources and applies sophisticated analytics to unearth patterns and trends that are not immediately apparent.

By offering a detailed examination of judges’ rulings, litigation histories, and even the tactics employed by opposing counsel, Lex Machina gives legal professionals a deeper understanding of the legal battlefield.

4. MyCase

MyCase bridges the communication gap between lawyers and their clients and fosters an environment of trust and transparency.

One of the standout features of MyCase is the ability for clients to have real-time access to their case files and information. This means that at any moment, they can log in to the portal to review documents, see the latest updates, and track the progress of their case.

Such access demystifies the legal process for clients and helps them feel more involved and informed about the proceedings of their cases.

Plus, the portal offers secure messaging features that allow for quick questions, updates, and discussions without the need for traditional, time-consuming communication methods like phone calls or physical meetings.

Best Practices for Using Legal Technology

Implementing legal technology effectively goes beyond selecting the right tools; to truly enhance the practice of law, you also need a strategic approach to integration, usage, and ongoing management.

Here are some best practices for law firms looking to make the most of legal technology:

Prioritize Training and Education

Every legal professional needs to know how to use your chosen tools correctly. This requires a commitment to ongoing education, including initial comprehensive training, regular updates on new features, and access to resources for self-learning.

Implement Strong Security Measures

Implementing robust security measures such as encryption, regular software updates, and periodic security audits protects both the firm and its clients from data breaches.

Focus on Client Data Protection

Protecting client data is an important aspect of legal practice. Firms must adhere to the highest standards of confidentiality, educate clients on secure communication practices, and make sure that all technology complies with privacy laws and ethical guidelines.

Embrace Flexibility and Scalability

The legal technology landscape is continually evolving. Selecting flexible and scalable solutions allows firms to adapt to changing needs and technologies without disrupting existing workflows.

Optimize for Collaboration and Accessibility

Cloud-based solutions and tools accessible across different devices facilitate seamless teamwork and information sharing, regardless of location. This ensures that team members can work efficiently and remain connected to colleagues and clients no matter where they are.

Monitor and Analyze Technology Performance

Firms should regularly evaluate the impact of these tools on productivity and case outcomes to make sure that investments in legal technology are delivering the value that they want.

Incorporating Technology in Your Practice Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult

The legal world is always rife with competition, and that won’t change any time soon. Stay ahead of your competitors by integrating new systems into your practice areas, starting with automation tools that can make work easier.

Use the power of artificial intelligence to get rid of the bottlenecks in litigation. With Briefpoint, you can take out hours upon hours of work spent on just drafting discovery documents. Save your brain power for more value-adding tasks and let Briefpoint do the work.

Automate Your Discovery Phase With Briefpoint

Under these assumptions, you save $20,477 using Briefpoint, per year, per attorney.

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.

FAQs About Legal Technology

Will legal tech replace legal professionals?

Legal technology is designed to augment the capabilities of legal professionals, not replace them. It takes over repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing up lawyers to focus on more complex, strategic aspects of their cases that require human judgment, empathy, and ethical considerations.

Is legal tech expensive?

The cost of legal tech varies widely depending on the solution, ranging from affordable subscriptions for basic tools to significant investments for comprehensive platforms. However, focusing solely on the upfront cost misses the bigger picture. Legal tech should be viewed as an investment that can lead to substantial savings and efficiency gains in the long run.

Can small law firms benefit from using legal tech?

Absolutely, and in many ways, legal tech can be a game-changer for small firms. While smaller practices may lack the extensive resources of larger firms, legal technology levels the playing field, allowing them to compete more effectively. For small firms, efficiency and the ability to provide personalized service are crucial competitive advantages.

What Is an AI Legal Discovery Process?

What is the longest part of the litigation process? Ask any lawyer, and they will tell you that it’s definitely discovery.

It’s no surprise, either. Lawyers often have to sift through hundreds of relevant documents, spend days on research, and create legal documents on top of it all. However, that was all before artificial intelligence entered the picture.

From technology-assisted review to early case assessment, AI has and continues to change how lawyers work. Let’s take a look at how AI’s transformative power affects the discovery process in today’s law firms.

What Are the Biggest Challenges in Manual Discovery?

Manual discovery often involves combing through vast amounts of data to find information relevant to a case. While essential, this process typically comes with significant challenges that can affect the efficiency, accuracy, and overall cost of legal proceedings.

More specifically, the manual discovery phase is:

Too Time-Consuming: Legal professionals must sift through thousands, sometimes millions, of documents, emails, and other data forms to collect relevant information. This process can take weeks or months, which can delay case timelines and consume valuable resources.
Excessively Costly: Given its labor-intensive nature, manual discovery can be incredibly expensive. The more time legal teams spend on discovery, the higher the billable hours, which increases clients’ legal fees.
Prone to Human Error: Even the most diligent legal professionals are susceptible to fatigue and oversight. Errors can occur while reviewing countless documents, including overlooking crucial information or misinterpreting data.
Lacking Standardization: Manual discovery processes can vary significantly from one firm to another. Variations can lead to inconsistencies in how data is collected, reviewed, and presented.
Physically and Mentally Taxing: The sheer volume of work involved in manual discovery can lead to burnout among legal teams. The stress of meeting tight deadlines and the monotonous nature of the work can have a huge impact on their well-being and, in turn, job performance.

How Can AI and Machine Learning Improve Legal Discovery?

The main goal of AI-powered legal discovery is to take over the most tedious tasks and reduce (if not eliminate) the challenges mentioned above. But what does this mean exactly?

Here are the best ways law firms can apply artificial intelligence (AI) in legal discovery work:

Automated Document Review

Automated Document Review uses the power of AI algorithms to transform how lawyers and paralegals review relevant documents. Automation leads to faster analysis of large datasets, pinpointing patterns, keywords, and important information at speeds that far exceed human capabilities.

The precision of AI speeds up the document review process tenfold. Plus, it significantly decreases the chances of overlooking important documents due to human error.

Discovery Document Generation

Creating discovery documents – like discovery requests and, even more so, discovery responses – can take hours when done manually, which can negatively affect a legal team’s productivity. Legal AI tools help minimize this hurdle by using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to draft documents in seconds instead of hours.

Document generation tools like Briefpoint.ai automatically generate discovery documents based on standard templates. Afterward, you can easily customize these documents based on the specifics of the case and put the finishing touches on Word. It’s easy, intuitive, and takes up much less time than manual document creation.

Faster Legal Research

AI tools can upgrade legal research by quickly parsing through legal databases, statutes, case laws, and precedents to find relevant information.

Unlike tedious manual research methods, AI systems can instantly provide lawyers with the information they need. This kind of tool helps make sure they don’t miss any important information and that their case strategy is backed by comprehensive legal research.

Regulatory Compliance

Keeping up with the constant change of regulations and compliance requirements is a daunting task for most legal professionals. AI and ML models can monitor regulatory updates in real-time and ensure that law firms remain compliant with current laws and regulations.

This is particularly beneficial for firms dealing with cross-border cases or operating in multiple jurisdictions, where regulatory compliance is complex and always evolving.

What Does an AI-Powered Discovery Process Mean for Law Firms?

Integrating AI into the legal profession clears the way for many advantages. From better productivity to maximizing your bottom line, here are some of the ways AI can take the discovery phase to the next level:

Better Efficiency and Time Management

AI and machine learning algorithms automate the most time-consuming parts of discovery, such as sifting through massive volumes of documents, identifying relevant data, and drafting discovery documents.

Less time spent on these tedious tasks allows lawyers to focus on more strategic aspects of their cases, such as formulating arguments and engaging with clients. In other words, AI gives attorneys more time to work on higher-value tasks that are more important for the outcome of the case.

Additionally, efficient legal workflows go hand in hand with improved work-life balance for legal teams. This is an important aspect that many gloss over, but when people have a better relationship with work, they tend to be more productive, consistent, and satisfied with their jobs.

Improved Consistency and Accuracy Across Legal Documents

AI technologies can maintain a high level of consistency and accuracy across all legal documents generated during the discovery process.

Unlike humans, who may accidentally introduce errors or inconsistencies into their work, AI systems follow programmed rules to ensure that every document adheres to the same standards and formats.

Uniformity and accuracy are a must in legal proceedings. The quality and reliability of documentation can significantly impact case outcomes, and having problematic documents can waste even more time and money for both clients and legal teams.

Law Firm Profitability

What is the point of introducing AI tech to the legal profession? We already know that the direct benefits are better efficiency, consistency, and accuracy. However, it all boils down to increasing law firm profitability.

Automating repetitive and mundane tasks reduces the billable hours typically required. Cost savings for clients means better competitiveness for the law firm, which can lead to more referrals.

More importantly, efficient operations allow firms to handle a heavier caseload without the need to expand the team. This can lead to better profit margins, career development for current employees, and higher chances of business expansion in the future.

Tech-Informed Law Firms

With more and more law firms shifting to electronic discovery, staying up-to-date with legal software has become a necessity in recent years.

Today’s law firms may have a hard time keeping up with the competition if they don’t adapt to legal trends, and we can only expect these technologies to evolve even further down the line.

Best AI-Driven Discovery Tools of 2024

Now that we’ve established the advantages of AI and machine learning in the discovery process, it’s time to talk about the best tools that let you access these benefits. Here are some of the top AI-powered technologies that can help make discovery easier, faster, and more valuable:

1. Briefpoint.ai

Briefpoint is a powerful tool that uses generative AI to draft discovery response and request documents. Manually creating these documents can take hours if not days, which is a huge bottleneck that can increase litigation costs. With Briefpoint, however, you can generate content within minutes.

The documents Briefpoint can draft include but are not limited to:

Requests for Admission
Requests for Production
Interrogatories

Using this discovery tool is simple. You just have to upload your discovery request, add objections or responses, and finish up on Microsoft Word. Briefpoint takes care of the nitty gritty in between with data-driven accuracy and precision.

2. Logikcull

Logikcull simplifies the discovery process with its intuitive, cloud-based platform that automates data processing, document review, and case preparation.

Its artificial intelligence system speeds up the discovery process by automatically categorizing and reviewing electronically stored information. As a result, law firms can spend less time on manual document review and save money on data storage.

3. Luminance

Luminance uses proprietary machine learning algorithms to provide a detailed analysis of legal documents at speeds no human could match.

It is particularly effective in due diligence and contract analysis and can identify anomalies and patterns that might indicate risk or require further investigation. Luminance’s AI understands language and document structure in a way that mimics human cognitive processes but with the ability to process information on a much larger scale.

Maximize Your Bottom Line With an Automated Discovery Process

Automating legal discovery starts a domino effect in your law firm. First, you upgrade your efficiency, which leads to better productivity and time management. In turn, you’ll have more positive case outcomes and get more referrals from satisfied clients. At the end of the chain is a more competitive law firm and a superior bottom line.

Get rid of the burden of creating discovery documents by hand. Start streamlining your discovery process with Briefpoint today.

Slash Hours From the Discovery Phase With Briefpoint

Under these assumptions, you save $20,477 using Briefpoint, per year, per attorney.

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.

FAQs About the AI Legal Discovery Process

Is AI going to replace lawyers?

No, AI or e-discovery is intended to augment the capabilities of lawyers, not replace them. It handles the tedious aspects of legal work, allowing lawyers to focus on complex decision-making and continuous active learning.

How does AI ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information?

AI systems designed for legal work are built with stringent security measures and comply with privacy laws to protect sensitive information. Still, it’s important to read the terms and conditions to ensure the tools you are using are safe and secure.

Can small law firms afford AI-based discovery tools?

Yes, many AI tools are scalable and available as services, making them accessible to firms of all sizes. You can start with the basic packages, but you may need to expand to premium features or new tools as your law firm expands.