Final article in a series about technology & the legal profession published by Janet Reed Esq

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - Dec. 1, 2018 - PRLog -- In her final article in a series, Family Law attorney Janet Reed discusses the advancements and impact of technology upon the legal profession, and how it is being utilized to enhance the client experience in terms of satisfaction and customer service. As technology reshapes all of modern personal and professional life, the legal profession is no exception.

The complete articles will be published on the blog of Ms. Reed at https://janetreedesq.blogspot.com/

Incorporating technology into a law practice can make the practice more efficient and increase client satisfaction. In fact, technology may enable the practitioner to exceed client expectations. Here are a few, simple-to-implement options.

Payment Services-Electronic Invoices

Payment by check is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Credit Card Payments are now commonplace, and even other forms of payment such as ACH, wire transfers, and Paypal are becoming more commonplace. While there are costs associated with taking credit card payments or Paypal, the ease of use and the increased speed of getting paid are often worth the fees. Many merchant account vendors now provide a Web portal to facilitate online payments. Google and Square (www.square.com) as well as Legal Software Systems (www.legalsoftwaresystems.com) provide technology to accept payments via smartphone.

There are ethics opinions regarding Attorneys accepting credit cards for payments, thus one should consult the local ethics rules.

Confidentiality Protections

Maintaining the confidentiality of client information is an ethical foundation of the profession. Encryption tools may add extra security to electronic communications. Document efforts to keep their clients' information safe and secure.

Signing Documents Electronically

Services like DocuSign (www.docusign.com), RightSignature (www.rightsignature.com) and e-Sign Live (www.esignlive.com) can save time and effort in cases where no wet signature is required and an electronic signature is sufficient.

On-line Calendaring and Scheduling

Scheduling meetings can be an enormous drag upon staff time and efficiency. This may cause delays and confusion, especially when the client or lawyer must re-schedule a previously scheduled meeting.

There are several options for simplifying scheduling. One of them is TimeTap (www.timetap.com). For example, potential clients can instantly schedule an appointment online. It also removes impediments from new clients to make contact with one's Firm.

Example of Technology Suite for a Small Law Firm

In case you wonder what technologies other law firms have, here is an actual real life example. This small law firm uses the following technologies:

• CosmoLex (online and App) – Law Practice Management Software
• LawPay (online and App) – Payment software for billing/invoicing.
• Google Suite (online and App) – Document creation/management.
• Dropbox (online and App) – Transfer/management of large files.
• Westlaw – Legal Research.
• Skype – Phones & video conferencing.
• Facetime – Client communications.

And since many law firms are gradually going "paperless," a system for scanning documents and managing electronic files becomes indispensable.

Harnessing technology can greatly increase client satisfaction, save time and effort, and reduce the stress of practicing law in this fast-moving world. Undoubtedly, technology will continue to change the ways that legal teams serve their clients.

*NOTE: The inclusion of a technology or app in this article does not mean an endorsement or approval. The listed technologies are just for illustrative purposes. None of these particular technologies are endorsed or recommended by this author.

Website of Janet Reed: https://janetreedlaw.com/ - The complete articles will be published on the blog of Ms. Reed at https://janetreedesq.blogspot.com/