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As clients demand more than just legal expertise, law firms must embrace innovation to enhance their service offerings. This blog will delve into the areas where law firms are lagging and provide strategies for leaders to drive meaningful change.

1. Embracing technological advancements

Despite the clear benefits of technology, many law firms are slow to adopt new tools. A recent survey by UUÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ found that only 18% of lawyers believe their firm is fast or very fast at implementing new technology. This reluctance to embrace change is a significant barrier to innovation.

Laura Hodgson, Generative AI Lead at Linklaters, emphasises the importance of a mindset shift:

"There needs to be a mind shift to recognise that law firms have more to offer than the knowledge in each lawyer’s head."

By leveraging institutional data and AI, firms can transform their client offerings.

Two-thirds of lawyers report that their firms are slow to respond to change. This lack of agility can hinder a firm's ability to meet client demands and adapt to new market conditions.

Deborah Finkler, Managing Partner at Slaughter and May, offers insight on how firms should tackle this problem: "We are focusing our efforts on the practice areas where new technology can make the most difference."

Actionable steps

Clients today expect more than just legal advice; they want a seamless, personalised experience. However, many firms struggle to meet these expectations due to outdated processes.

Hélder Santos, Head of Legal Tech and Innovation at Bird & Bird, believes that enhancing client experience through technology is crucial: "Enhancing client experience through personalised services and efficient communication builds trust."

Actionable steps

Inefficient processes are a common complaint among lawyers, with 52% rating their firm's legal research speed as slow. This inefficiency not only affects productivity but also client satisfaction.

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Darren Mitchell, Chief Operating Officer at Simmons & Simmons, stresses the importance of knowledge management: "Knowledge management is key for driving change in how we structure and utilise core documents."

Actionable steps

Mark Smith, Director of Strategic Markets at UUÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, notes the competitive advantage of AI: "We are already seeing firms tell us they are both winning and losing work on the basis of their use of AI in their client-facing work."

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By addressing the slowest areas within their firms, leaders can not only meet client demands but also foster a culture of continuous improvement. Embracing change and investing in technology will secure a competitive edge in the evolving legal landscape.

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