What is Legal Tech?

The rise of legal tech has transformed how lawyers work by providing innovative solutions that simplify their workload and free up more time for what matters most.

For law firms and legal practitioners, getting bogged down in paperwork and tedious administrative tasks is a thing of the past. 

These powerful tools free up more hours in the day, allowing them to concentrate on delivering top-quality results to their clients.

From intuitive document automation tools to robust CRM systems, there’s a whole slew of tech waiting to optimize your legal workflows⎯through advanced legal research platforms, eagle-eyed contract review software, and seamless billing and accounting solutions, to name a few.

In the past decade, law firms have been pushed to adapt at an unprecedented pace, and it’s leading to a client-centric culture where meeting expectations is just the starting point.

Imagine having more hours in the day to focus on high-stakes cases, settle disputes, or simply run your practice smoothly. These cutting-edge software solutions promise to bring attorneys a new era of productivity and clarity.

So, what does the current tech landscape look like in the legal industry?

8 Types of Legal Technology

Legal software is an umbrella term for tech solutions that aim to make life easier in law firms and legal departments.

In 2024, there are far too many to dissect one by one, but we’re going to focus on the essential tools every law firm needs in their tech stack:

1. Document Automation

Document automation is a type of technology that simplifies the process of creating and managing legal documents. Imagine cutting out the repetitive, mundane tasks of drafting contracts, filling out forms, and making sure everything is formatted correctly.

With document automation, all these tasks are handled by software, which allows you to generate documents quickly and accurately with just a few clicks.

Legal professionals know that tiny clerical errors can snowball into crippling problems. But if we put this technology to work, these potential landmines will be painstakingly dissected, leaving only error-free documents in their wake. 

Plus, it pulls in relevant information from your client management system or legal databases so that all necessary details are included without you having to manually input them.

Briefpoint.ai

Briefpoint is one of the easiest solutions available for handling discovery requests and cutting the time needed from hours to just minutes. 

To use it, simply upload a discovery request, select your objections and responses, and download the Word document. After that, all that’s left is to sign and serve.

There’s also Briefpoint Bridge, which eliminates the hassle of acquiring, receiving, and inputting client responses into discovery documents.

With this feature, you can have Briefpoint translate the requests into plain English and send them to your clients to collect their responses. and  Once your client has added their responses, Briefpoint adds them to your response document and you’re done.

All without the hassle of back-and-forth or manually written emails.

Currently, Briefpoint lets you automate the preparation of responses to and propounding sets off:

• Requests for Production
• Requests for Admission
• Interrogatories

Test Briefpoint yourself by scheduling a demo here.

2. Client Relationship Management

Effective client relationships rely on one crucial element: keeping track of interactions and managing expectations⎯a feat made effortlessly possible by CRM. 

A CRM system is central to law firms. It keeps all client interactions and data in one place, making it easy to log conversations, schedule meetings, and optimize daily tasks.

A CRM that delivers gives you a single, seamless view of each client’s history so you can spot patterns, remember important details, and respond with a personal touch.

Scheduling tools help manage appointments and deadlines efficiently, while task management features ensure nothing is overlooked.

Take client satisfaction to new heights with automated reminders and follow-ups that are as thorough as they are timely. 

More importantly, clients trust you with their most valuable data – that’s why modern CRMs take that responsibility seriously and integrate robust security features that cover every base and surpass regulatory standards.

Additionally, analytics and reporting tools provide insights into client behavior and firm performance, which can help you make informed decisions and improve your client relationship strategies.

Clio

What sets law firms up for success? A robust CRM like Clio empowers lawyers to prioritize their work, foster strong relationships, and drive business results.

For one, it keeps all your client info in one place, so it’s easy to stay on top of things. Managing your contacts was much easier – you can now book appointments, monitor your conversations, and stash away crucial documents.

Clio is built to integrate with other legal tech tools, so you can stop juggling tasks and focus on core ones. 

Whether you’re following up with a new lead or maintaining contact with a long-time client, Clio helps make sure that nothing slips through the cracks and every interaction is recorded.

3. Law Firm Management

Picture this: lawyers juggling phone calls with clients, court dates, and account ledgers, all while trying to keep their firm financially fit and running smoothly.

Law firm or practice management software simplifies and organizes these tasks, which, in turn, makes it easier to run your practice efficiently. 

Fortifying your daily operations with the right tools and strategies can help you stay one step ahead of the competition. This is the key to unlocking peak productivity and improving client satisfaction.

MyCase

MyCase simplifies the complexities of running a legal practice. Imagine having all your case details, documents, and communications in one place.

MyCase puts case information right at your command so you can update and access it on a whim and stay organized. 

Aside from communication and document management, time and expense tracking is also a breeze with MyCase. You can log billable hours and expenses directly into the system so your billing is always accurate and timely. 

Speaking of billing, MyCase makes generating invoices quick and easy. Create detailed invoices, send them to clients, and track payments all in one platform.

Thanks to MyCase’s secure messaging and client portal, communication with clients is seamless. Keep your clients informed and engaged to improve their overall experience with your firm. 

Document management is another highlight of MyCase. You can store, organize, and share documents securely, making sure all your important files are easily accessible and protected.

4. Legal Research

At the core of every law practice lies a crucial activity: legal research. 

Effective legal services start with thorough investigations. To decide with confidence, you need to dig up and dissect laws, regulations, and past court decisions that back up your argument.

Building a strong legal case requires more than piecing together a few facts—it demands a comprehensive understanding of the law, and that’s where diligent research comes in.

With modern research tools, the grind is replaced by a powerful workflow that produces comprehensive results in record time.

Westlaw

Westlaw is a leading legal research tool that has become indispensable for many law firms. It provides access to an extensive database of legal information, including case law, statutes, regulations, and legal journals.

With Westlaw by their side, law firms can slice through the noise and find the legal insights they need. Suddenly, the insights you need are just a click away. 

With an enormous collection of case law, statutes, regulations, and prominent legal journals at your command, you’ll be better equipped to tackle complex cases.

One of the standout features of Westlaw is its KeyCite tool, which helps you verify the validity of case law. With KeyCite, you can see how subsequent courts have treated a case, so you can rely on solid legal precedents.

5. Contract Review and Management

Law firms must balance impeccable contract review with effective management to avoid careless oversights and guarantee comprehensive agreements.

Traditionally, this process could be labor-intensive and time-consuming, involving meticulous manual work to spot potential issues and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. 

However, modern tools have revolutionized this process, making it far more efficient and less prone to errors.

In today’s legal world, contracts are being revamped with the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in contract management. 

Ironclad

With Ironclad, contract management becomes a whole lot easier – we’re talking automation of drafting, approvals, and everything in between. For fast and easy contract creation, set up templates for your standard agreements. 

Plus, this tool seriously boosts collaboration, as multiple team members can tackle a contract together, and all changes are tracked live.

Ironclad’s review capabilities are particularly powerful. With AI doing the heavy lifting, this solution identifies essential keywords and provisions, making it virtually impossible to miss anything. 

This feature acts as a safety net to catch potential problems and align contracts with your firm’s regulations and standards.

Once contracts are finalized, Ironclad makes it easy to manage them throughout their lifecycle. You can track important dates, such as renewal or termination deadlines, and set up automated reminders to ensure that no critical tasks are missed.

6. Billing and Accounting

Managing billing and accounting is crucial for any law firm. It involves tracking billable hours, managing expenses, generating invoices, and keeping financial records accurate and up-to-date.

These tasks, while essential, can be time-consuming and prone to errors if done manually.

Imagine tackling financial tasks with ease, minus the worry of costly errors–that’s exactly what modern billing and accounting software can do for you.

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is a popular tool for law firms to manage billing and accounting efficiently. Stay on top of your time and money with a system that effortlessly tracks hours, expense management, and speedy invoice generation.

With QuickBooks, you can send invoices directly to clients to ensure accurate billing and faster payments. Its excellent expense tracking also simplifies monitoring spending and preparing for tax season.

QuickBooks also provides valuable financial insights through its reporting tools to help you track profitability and make informed decisions. 

Integrating seamlessly with other tools, QuickBooks creates a smooth workflow, and its user-friendly interface makes it easy for everyone in the firm to use.

7. Client Intake

Law firms know that attracting new clients is just the first step—the real challenge is making them feel welcome and supported.

Client intake includes gathering essential information, managing forms and documents, and ensuring the client feels welcomed and well-informed.

A reliable intake process is like a strong foundation—it sets the stage for a successful client-lawyer partnership and helps simplify and clarify things later. 

Lawmatics

Lawmatics takes the hassle out of onboarding new clients by automating everything from gathering essential information to managing forms and documents.

With Lawmatics, you can create customized intake forms that capture all the details you need so you don’t miss anything. Plus, its user-friendly interface makes the whole process smooth and efficient.

One of the standout features of Lawmatics is its ability to track leads and follow up automatically, which means you never miss a potential client.

It also integrates seamlessly with other legal tech tools and CRM systems, which helps keep everything organized and accessible.

8. Electronic Signatures

Many legal organizations are no longer bogged down by paper clutter, thanks to electronic signatures that allow documents to be signed quickly and securely without physical storage.

Digital signatures simplify legal document handling, safeguard sensitive information, and bring paperwork into the digital age.

DocuSign

With DocuSign, you can send, sign, and manage documents electronically so signatures are collected quickly and securely. 

No matter what type of legal document you’re working with—contract, agreement, or something else entirely—this platform has the versatility to handle it with ease.

One of the key benefits of DocuSign is its ease of use. Both lawyers and clients can sign documents from any device, whether they’re in the office or on the go.

With this flexibility, delayed signatures become a thing of the past, and important documents get signed promptly. 

DocuSign also offers robust security features, including encryption and authentication, to protect the integrity of your documents and the confidentiality of your clients.

Focus on Strategy, Not Paperwork

With how advanced legal tech has become, you might be losing thousands of dollars if you’re still on the fence. Think about the time you can save by simply automating legal processes.

How about the billable hours you can put towards meaningful work instead of routine stuff?

You’ve got better things to do than push paper around – invest your time and energy in offering premium legal expertise. Start building your legal tech stack with a tool that will take hours off your plate.

With Briefpoint.ai, you can draft, format, and complete discovery documents in minutes. Yup, no more copy-pasting from your old documents, spending hours double-checking each line, and going back and forth with client responses.

It’s a huge burden off your shoulders, and you can try it free for your first document.

Take Advantage of Automated Document Generation Today

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.

Book a demo and save on these costs with Briefpoint.