By Legal Futures Associate OneAdvanced
Choosing the right legal software for your law firm is crucial. With the right tools, you can streamline operations, improve efficiency, and ultimately provide better service to your clients. But with so many options on the market, finding the perfect fit can be challenging.
Here, we offer some key questions you should ask your legal software vendor (such as us!) to make the best decision for you.
Is it cloud-native?
The functionality of cloud-native systems make them much more flexible to provide unmatched flexibility and accessibility from anywhere, as well as fast, smooth digital delivery that is infinitely scalable. It also makes development much faster, with automated updates that futureproofs your practice – ensuring you have the most secure and function-rich system.
Tip: Be sure that, if you’re looking for a cloud system, it’s a cloud-native system. Some systems may be ‘cloud-ready’ or ‘cloud-enabled’ but in reality be legacy hardware that has been lifted to a cloud environment to make it more accessible.
Is it SaaS?
Subscription-as-a-Service is becoming more popular in the legal software market as cloud-native systems come into the market. This provides you as the firm with an easy to understand procurement system where you understand exactly how much you’re paying per user per month, and can scale up the licenses you need as you grow.
Is it built for UK and Irish firms?
‘Made in Britain’ isn’t something you’d often associate with legal software, but locality is important when considering security protocols and regulatory compliance.
With increased pressure from regulators and changing guidance, it’s important that your software vendor is aware and engaging with these bodies and regulations to ensure that you have peace of mind that your practice has the tools it needs to be compliant across all the regulatory bodies.
By building for UK and Irish firms, you know that these considerations have been made. Whereas international software that has been optimised for the UK and Irish markets may not necessarily look at the regulatory aspects, focusing more on language or functionality alignment.
Is it easy to use?
With efficiency and productivity two key drivers in procuring new legal software, ask a really simple question: is it easy to use?
Does it have a familiar, intuitive design and user experience? Is it something that your staff are going to be able to pick up quickly? For that learning curve that there will no doubt be, how accessible and easy to digest is the training?
Does everything in the tech stack fit well together?
Compatibility and integration are key to seamless operations. You don’t want to invest in software that doesn’t play well with your existing systems. If it’s a practice and case management system for example, ask the vendor how their software will integrate with your current applications – or if it includes software such as time recording, legal forms, wills management or legal-centric accounting software.
Additionally, inquire about additional software or third-party integrations the vendor offers and how easy it is to integrate your systems. These can offer flexibility and expand functionality, ensuring you get the most out of your software investment.
What support do you offer?
Even the most intuitive software can come with a learning curve. That’s why solid support is crucial. Ask the vendor about their customer support options. Do they offer 24/7 support? What channels are available – email, phone, live chat? Additionally, find out if they provide onboarding assistance or training materials. Having access to comprehensive support can significantly ease the transition to new software and minimise downtime. Knowing that help is readily available can enhance your team’s confidence in using the new technology effectively.
Selecting the right legal software vendor is not a decision to be taken lightly. By asking these critical questions, you can ensure that you choose a platform that meets your firm’s unique needs, enhances security, and integrates seamlessly with your existing systems. Remember, the right software not only improves your firm’s efficiency but also strengthens client relationships through better data management and service delivery. Equip yourself with the right information and make an informed choice that will benefit your firm for years to come.
