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[FYI] Seven Keys to Law Firm-Client Tech Communicatio
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- Subject: [FYI] Seven Keys to Law Firm-Client Tech Communicatio
- From: "Axel H Horns" <horns@ipjur.com>
- Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 20:58:46 +0200
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http://www.nylj.com/tech/101000t4.html
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TECH TRENDS
Seven Keys to Law Firm-Client Tech Communication
By Doug Caddell
New York Law Journal
Tuesday, October 10, 2000
What can law departments and their technology people do to work more
effectively with their law firm colleagues?
During last month's LawNet 2000 meeting in Palm Springs, Calif., a
panel tackled that very topic. Joining me were technology directors
and managers from three firms: John Green, of Memphis's Baker,
Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell; Sharon Gietl of St. Louis's Bryan Cave
L.L.P.; and Amy Stewart of Detroit's Honigman Miller Schwartz and
Cohn. The moderator was Frank Kilsdonk of Johnson Controls, Inc.
The panelists identified seven key steps to help law firm
technologists better serve corporate clients:
Communicate early, often
Give law firm technology staff a technical contact at the corporate
law department. Too often one attorney will talk to another about a
technology idea and the translation given to their respective
technology staff turns out to be inconsistent or not feasible. Get
technology people from both organizations together early on.
Take inventory
There is often more than one way to make a technology initiative
work. Law firm technology departments often are told that the client
"demands" that they use a specific product or service. Ask what
technology the law firm may already have in-place. Many times
existing technology can work as well and be implemented more quickly.
Understand reality
Historically, law firm technology departments were staffed to support
word-processing and then basic e-mail communication. Many firm
leaders are only now coming to grips with the realities of today's
demanding technology. Many technology departments can only support
the day-to-day internal needs of their firm. Individual lawyers will
make promises to clients without checking the availability of
resources and the viability of a projects success with their
technology staff. This problem is expanded when multiple attorneys
make multiple requests.
Set realistic deadlines.
Deadlines that are communicated to law firm technology people are
usually one of near-immediate implementation. Communicating directly
with law firm technology staff will help identify the real due dates.
Law firm technologists often rush ahead, only to find that the
corporate law department's deadline is weeks away.
Order Equipment In Time
Knowing the hardware and software required for the project is
critical. This may sound like a no-brainer, but understanding the
requirements with sufficient lead-time to order, receive and
configure hardware and software is a key element for success.
Remember: equipment may be backordered and immediate delivery may not
be possible.
Talk about communications
T1, ISDN, X.400, Notes, and the Internet are just some of the options
available to allow parties to connect and communicate. Far too often
the word that reaches the law firm staff is that the client requires
a "xyz" connection. Sometimes this is true, but often there are
multiple ways to connect and/or communicate that are acceptable to
everyone.
Coordinate with IT
Corporate law departments can be at the bottom of their in-house
technology food chain, receiving reduced help from the corporate IT
department. It's only natural that corporate technology departments
are focused on the revenue generating side of the business.
However, don't ask law firm staff to bypass corporate IT. Eventually,
law firm technology staff will have to coordinate with them, and not
doing so up-front only makes this important relationship more
difficult to nurture.
Keep these key steps in mind when discussing your next technology
project.
Corporate departments and their law firm counterparts share the same
pressures to reduce costs, improve efficiency, deliver service
quickly and improve results.
Doug Caddell (dcadell@foleylaw.com) is the chief information officer
at Milwaukee's Foley & Lardner.
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