There’s no doubt: technology has influenced all aspects of our lives. Every profession has been affected, especially the law.
Technological competency is becoming an increasingly valuable skill for legal professionals. Nevertheless, most law schools fail to provide students with adequate tech education. As a result, they are failing to prepare students for the changing legal industry.
Law Firms Already Use Technology
The term “legal technology” encompasses a diverse array of solutions designed to make firms more efficient. All law firms are using some kind of tech, ranging from email to accounting programs to case management software.
These technologies simplify business processes and save time. The better the solutions, the more efficient the law firm. That is, as long as the firm is actually using the software – which is where training and technological competency comes in.
How Legal Technology Will be Used in the Future
The legal industry is becoming increasingly competitive every year. To stay ahead, attorneys will need to invest in technology keep their practice cutting edge. Case management software will become more common, as will practical applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
The State of Technology Education in Law Schools
If you went to law school, you know that while you may be getting an exceptional education, law students are not taught how to be lawyers.
While a few forward-thinking law schools are providing their students with a strong background in technology, most have not integrated legal tech into their curriculum. For most schools, technology education is not high on the list of priorities. Some professors are even banning laptops in the classroom.
Law Schools and Their Students Benefit From Tech Education
Law graduates with tech backgrounds are becoming increasingly sought after among law firms. Clearly, this is beneficial for graduates: they are likely to be hired more quickly and able to negotiate higher salaries.
This is also good news for law schools that embrace teaching technology. With more employed, higher-paid graduates, their rankings will improve.
Law Firms Benefit When Students Learn Technology
When law students are taught about legal technology in school, it saves law firms from having to educate new hires. If students are familiar with cutting edge legal technology, they can also educate their employers. With the seemingly endless number of legal tech solutions available – it can be difficult for firms to decide which to invest in. Newly minted attorneys with the right educations can help law firms identify which solutions are best suited for their business.
There’s no getting around it: technology is changing the legal world. Although some law firms do use advanced technology, others have been slow to adopt changes. Technologically competent employees can help mitigate these challenges. Legal tech know-how begins with education. If law schools heed this advice, it will improve not only their reputation, but the well-being of the legal industry.
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