Amy Bruce, head of marketing at Osprey Approach
By Legal Futures Associate Osprey Approach
In the first episode of series three of the Build Better Habits webinars, host Amy Bruce – head of marketing at Osprey – was joined by Peter Ambrose, CEO at The Partnership and Legalito, Cathy Kirby, consultant at Baskerville Drummond, and Jon Batchelor, Strategic Director at Farnworth Rose Solicitors.
The expert guests shared their insights on the good, the bad, and the ugly of investing in legal tech and offered practical advice and guidance on leveraging technology to run a successful modern law firm.
- The tech tools and system SME law firms should invest in
- How to build an effective tech strategy
- Advice for measuring ROI on tech investments
- Lessons learnt from real-life tech projects
- How AI will impact SME law firms
Increasing investment in legal tech for SME law firms
The discussion began with a look at the current trends in tech investment among law firms. According to the 2024 LPM Frontiers Report, 64% of SME leaders plan to increase their tech spend over the next 12 months. Amy posed the question to the panellists: are firms investing in new systems and tools, or are they enhancing their existing ones?
Peter Ambrose noted that his firm has always been tech-heavy, adopting a “build, not buy” strategy. “Every year we increase the amount that we spend,” he said, highlighting their continuous investment in technology to reduce risk.
Cathy Kirby observed that many firms are moving to newer practice management systems, driven by the shift to SaaS (Software as a Service) pricing models: “The five to ten-year cost of using a SaaS system is greater, but you get all the flexibility, the agility, and the security that goes around that model,” she explained.
Jon Batchelor emphasised the importance of aligning tech investments with business strategy. “It’s about having a clear understanding of what it is you want these tools to do for you,” he said. He stressed the need for firms to be clear about their goals and to seek expert help in selecting the right tools.
What technology should law firms be investing in?
When asked what specific tools and systems firms should invest in, the panellists provided varied recommendations:
- Peter Ambrose: Invest in technology that provides more information for lawyers, helping them manage cases more effectively and protect themselves from potential abuse. “Service is … about giving people tools and the data to be able to deliver accurate information to their clients,” he said.
- Cathy Kirby: Understand the business’s needs and align tech investments accordingly. “Focus on the parts of the business that are going to either make you operationally better or performance-wise better,” she advised.
- Jon Batchelor: Tech should drive firms’ business goals and ensure they stay competitive: “Do it for a purpose and be very clear what it is that you want this stuff to achieve for you and find the tools which will enable you to achieve it.”
Forming an effective tech strategy
The panellists shared their top six business habits for forming an effective tech strategy – essential for firms wishing to remain competitive and efficient:
- Client-centric approach
- Clear IT principles
- Team training and support
- Early engagement with end-users
- A paranoid mindset
- Business continuity
To find out the experts best practices for each habits, watch the full webinar here >
Measuring ROI on tech investments
All panellists expressed their scepticism about the traditional ROI argument. Peter believes that financial ROI shouldn’t be a success measure; it’s about investing in tech to protect the business and ensure its continuity.
Cathy Kirby suggested using a maturity model to measure success, rather than focusing solely on ROI. “The target is to go up that maturity model,” she explained.
The good, the bad, and the ugly of tech investments
The panellists shared their experiences with tech investments, highlighting both successes and failures including unexpected software functionality, security saviours, and office closures.
Watch the full webinar to discover the first-hand stories and experiences >
The role of AI for law firms
The discussion concluded with a look at AI in legal tech. While there is optimism about AI’s potential, the panellists advised caution. “It’s too early for it. The liability isn’t understood,” Peter Ambrose warned. Cathy Kirby added that firms should keep an eye on their existing suppliers, as many are integrating AI in a controlled and secure manner.
Hear the panel’s recommendations and thoughts on the opportunities and risks that lie ahead >
Stay competitive with smart tech investments
By understanding the needs of your business, establishing clear IT principles, and ensuring your team is well-supported, you can create a tech strategy that drives success. As the panellists highlighted, the key is to be cautious, stay informed, and always keep the client’s needs at the forefront of your decisions.
For more exclusive advice and first-hand stories on the good, the bad, and the ugly of legal tech, watch the full episode on-demand now. You’ll hear Peter, Cathy, and Jon share their experience of sourcing, building, and investing in tech.
Implementing continuous improvement is one of the four fundamental habits we’ve outlined that all modern law firms should adopt for long-term success. We’ve covered all four habits in our Build Better Habits webinar series, which you can watch on-demand now.
