Legastat Blog

The impact of legal tech on the legal profession

Written by Greg Stewart | Dec 13, 2022 9:19:00 AM

A consideration of the potential effects of legal tech on the legal profession, including changes to job roles and the skills required by lawyers.

Legal technology, also known as “legal tech,” is having an increasing impact on how lawyers conduct their work, causing the legal profession to undergo a fundamental transition. This trend is predicted to have a significant impact on the tasks that lawyers perform and the skills that they must hold in the coming years.

The term “legal tech” refers to the application of technology to the process of providing legal services. This can range from software that automatically analyses contracts to online platforms that connect customers with solicitors. Legal technology has the potential to increase the productivity and accuracy of legal work, making it easier for lawyers to handle challenging obligations and produce better outcomes for their clients.

One of the most significant ways that legal technology is influencing the legal industry is by generating a shift in the kind of responsibilities that are assigned to lawyers. Previously, a large percentage of a lawyer’s job entailed conducting research and undertaking in-depth studies of complex legal issues. However, in today’s environment, many of these tasks can be automated using legal technology solutions, allowing solicitors to focus on higher-level operations such as client management and strategy.

Because of this tendency, it is very likely that there will be significant ramifications for the skills that lawyers need to be successful in their careers. Previously, the two most important skills for a lawyer to have were a thorough comprehension of the law and the capacity to undertake legal research. However, in order to successfully employ legal technology tools in the future, lawyers may need to learn new skills like computer literacy and data analysis. These new skills may be necessary to use legal technology tools effectively.

There is also a chance that legal technology will result in the creation of new job opportunities inside the legal profession. For example, as legal technology tools progress, there may be a greater demand for specialised legal technology specialists who can build and administer these systems. These experts may be required. These professionals can help attorneys take advantage of the most recent innovations in legal technology and preserve their competitive edge in the business.

In general, it is evident that improvements in legal technology are having a significant impact on legal practice. As this trend continues, it will be critical for lawyers to adapt their practices and have the knowledge, skills, and experience required to succeed in the changing legal environment.