Whether you consider yourself a “tech person” or not, technology is now transforming the world, including the legal profession. Therefore, you must embrace it if you want to succeed. If you are still a law student, the tech can help you create a brilliant custom law essay with some online help.
Technology has played a critical role in building connections, businesses, and organisations worldwide. The amplified use of tech and tools in the healthcare, financial, and educational sectors has altered how we do things. It can also make the law more efficient and accessible to underserved communities.
Today, we will talk about how technology can help legal education and future practice. Learning law is not easy, but if you incorporate technology while learning law, you will be opening the doors to many career opportunities.
However, the question arises: what exactly do you need to know about technology as a law student or practising lawyer? Here are some tips any law student or lawyer should know to avoid being a Luddite.
Tech Tips for the Modern Lawyers
Since modern problems require solutions, lawyers also need to go all techy for efficient practice and win cases more often. So, have a look at these tips below:
1. End the Myths
There is a growing demand for technology-trained lawyers, and now is high time for students to train themselves to land their dream job. One misconception about this new industry is understanding technology requires you to have a degree in computers or software engineering. However, that’s not the case at all. You can still learn about technology even if you are a law student. For example, find out how the different mobile applications can help you research a case. In addition, some applications or technology, such as the cloud, can help save data and keep it secure.
Another common misconception is technology will independently solve all our problems. On the contrary, technology helps humanity solve issues and alleviate their burden, not eliminate the problems. For example, how can an application solve a murder case? Does it make sense, no? but you can build an application and conduct a survey, and the results will help your solve the murder mystery!
2. Learn How to Programme
It is a common conclusion that you must know to code if you are a software developer or engineer. However, there is a lot more to it. For example, understanding the fundamentals of the software help you better understand what can be automated, how to collaborate with techies, and how to prepare legal advice for tech clients. Learning to code also allows you to use relevant terms for describing the technology in a patent or contract and confidently conversing with clients.
Take a coding for lawyers class if your law school offers one. You can also opt for free online coding courses if your school is behind the times and does not offer such a course. There are many different coding languages, and it doesn’t matter which one you choose. The core concepts of coding are the same in all of them. However, most people begin with Python.
Moreover, suppose you already know how to programme or code. In that case, you can quickly come up with any application or build your website to help other students with custom law essays and other assignments. Once you know the drill, you can benefit others and earn from it.
3. Be at Ease with New Software
Too many people shy away from technology, content to declare, “Oh, I’m not a tech person.” This needs to end! Learning new software can be difficult for some people. But, as with anything, it gets easier with practice.
A lawyer learns how to monitor cases throughout the law degree and even after entering the professional rim. Moreover, you learn about portals, agreement assistant apps, data transfer programmes, and court interfaces. Knowing such skills can help you rank among the top lawyers in your country.
Your ability to make the most of the software you already know and quickly learn new software will significantly improve your productivity. Always learn about advanced features and persuade your study group to use a free project management tool to manage all the tasks. The earlier you learn, the better.
4. Keep up with New Technology
It’s critical to have a broad understanding of new technology. Every day, new products are introduced that don’t directly relate to the legal field but may have subsidiary applications. For example, virtual reality can educate self-represented clients and new lawyers. Likewise, using smartwatches to communicate with co-counsel during a trial could give you an advantage.
More importantly, you’ll want to be aware of any risks associated with these new technologies before your clients use them. For example, understanding what data is transmitted and stored on a smartwatch and the risk of falling in VR can help you represent your client more effectively. Purchase the new wireless door if your income allows for such extravagances.
5. Take Security Measurements
Lawyers are responsible for handling an insane amount of important information, but understanding how to secure that data can be difficult. Any cybersecurity expert will tell you the user’s biggest threat comes from a data breach. It can happen due to bad passwords, a lack of analysis of the impact, or clicking on malware links, among other things. You could be an excellent lawyer on the verge of becoming a partner, but it takes only a data breach caused by your negligence to put your career on hold.
Begin with the fundamentals. Use two-factor authentication whenever possible, and create and store your passwords using a password manager (LastPass, KeePass, or Google Password Manager).
6. Stay Away from the Safe Players
Whatever field of law you choose to practise, technology will transform it dramatically over the next 10–20 years. Joining a legal firm or company where the partners insist on doing things the same way they always have is a surefire way to put your career on hold. So, look for a workplace that is open to choices.
Examine the case management system used by a potential employer when deciding where to work. For example, is the IT dept that resets passwords, or is it fully integrated into the organisation? As a potential hire, this can be not easy to determine. Reach out to classmates who have worked at the firm for guidance.
7. Avoid Repetitive Tasks
A tip that goes hand in hand with learning to be a lawyer, as learning to code can assist you in identifying repetitive tasks. If your specialised legal knowledge can be reduced to a decision tree or flowchart, you’re at risk of automation. It is not to say you should stay away from those areas at all costs. However, be conscious of the value you bring to the table. You don’t want to become an expert in a field only to discover someone has created a Turbo Tax that can do your job for you.
It can be interesting to determine how much your job can be automated. But if you learn the techniques and stay focused on your work, you’ll get to the place where you can say I’m evolving with the technology and breaking the norms.
