NexStep Technology and Legal Industry Links

Rule 1.1 of the Arizona Supreme Court Rules of Court mandates “skill” in competent legal representation of any client. The ABA Model Version of ER 1.1, says lawyers “should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.”

To maintain legal competence, lawyers are not expected to keep up with every trend in new technology. However, at a minimum, law firm management must understand the trends because they are increasingly important to client success and running a law firm.

Today’s leading firms know that if their communications systems are good enough, they don’t need as much mid-level management. The cost of maintaining a high-end technology department, with some of the most expensive salaries in the firm and equally budget busting fringe packages, has become the problem, not the solution to client communication and electronic document management, especially for smaller firms.

If it costs too much, takes up too much time, and drains intellectual resources that ought to be directed to client service, then reengineering is in order. NexStep is in the reengineering business.

Rather than offer our own opinions here, NexStep will create and maintain a dynamic set of hyperlinks to sites and information on legal technology, and how it impacts the day-to-day practice of law.

American Bar Association

“10 technology trends shaping the legal industry”

http://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2014/05/10_technology_trends.html

Law tech News (lawtechnews.com)

http://www.lawtechnews-digital.com/lawtechnews/march_april_2015?sub_id=Q8TDINRghdMo#pg1

Law Technology Today

http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/

International Legal technology Association

http://www.iltanet.org/

Information technology Law

http://www.hg.org/information-technology-law.html

ABA Technology Conference

http://www.techshow.com/

Law Practice Today

http://www.lawpracticetoday.org/article/4-steps-getting-serious-law-firm-cybersecurity/

The American Lawyer

http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202719660496/Law-Firms-to-Form-Cybersecurity-Alliance?slreturn=20150315135834