As with every industry, technology advancements are taking over the legal field. Although many in the legal industry are reluctant to embrace these changes, it is undeniable that law and tech will go hand in hand in the years to come. Advances in technology are not just inevitable, they are desirable, bringing with them numerous benefits for both your firm and your clients. With the right tech tools at your disposal, you will be able to work more efficiently and be connected and accessible to your clients in ways never before possible.
Managing your technology, however, requires an I.T. staff. This necessity can become a huge drain on your bottom line. Furthermore, your I.T. needs may be larger or more complex than a single employee can easily handle. But of course, an entire I.T. team requires an even larger expenditure.
That’s where an outsourced I.T. firm is the best option. You may have already considered outsourcing your I.T., but if you haven’t jumped on board yet, here are some of the benefits that other law firms have reaped.
1. You’ll Have World-Class I.T. Services Available to Your Law Firm, Regardless of Size
Hiring a single I.T. employee to maintain all your technology will get you a “jack of all trades” with general experience solving general I.T. problems. By outsourcing I.T. support to a full service I.T. company, you in essence hire an entire team of specialists that can handle just about everything you need. Whatever I.T. issue you might face, there will be a team member with the solution to it. If you hire an I.T. provider that offers tailored solutions for each client, you’ll reap even more benefits as you enjoy technology geared to the specific work your firm does and goals you have.
2. You’ll Gain a Competitive Advantage with the Help of Customized Technology
Technology changes fast. New updates, tools, and software emerge every day. While a single I.T. employee may struggle to keep abreast of the latest offerings, a full service I.T. provider has the resources to evaluate new technologies as they arrive, and make recommendations to their clients when those new technologies are an improvement over what is currently being employed.
New security threats appear with increasing regularity. While your single I.T. technician may not have the time to follow rumors and chatter regarding imminent threats, a full service provider will have team members dedicated to watching for trouble and proactively working to strengthen your networks and keep your data safe.
In either case, it’s the law firm that is quickest to adapt, as well as raise their defenses when necessary—that will thrive while everyone else plays catch up.
3. You’ll Reduce Costs
Outsourcing I.T. operations will make your law firm more profitable in many ways. First and foremost, you’ll get that highly specialized team of experts for a small fraction of the costs of hiring that many employees to work for you full time. Hiring a full service I.T. provider gets you access to an I.T. team 24/7 if needed, while also giving you the savings of not having a staff member on call if you don’t need help.
Outsourcing your I.T. operations will save money on training. Technology advances rapidly, so your I.T. staff will require ongoing training and certifications to stay at the top of their game, and that costs money (and time). Hiring an outside I.T. firm means that you will get highly trained experts with no extra expenditure.
4. You’ll Have Predictable Costs
With a managed service provider, you will know what you can expect to pay every month. When you employ your own I.T. staff and host your own data, if something gets broken, you’ll pay more. When your I.T. person gets sick, you’ll need to hire temporary outside help, which means you pay more than usual. Outsourced I.T. firms offer you the full range of services for a predictable monthly cost, without the headache of unpredicted expenses.
5. You’ll Have Improved Access and Reliability
Your clients expect you to be available for consultation at any time. In a highly competitive market, you cannot afford to be unavailable due to technical issues. If you can’t be reached because your server can’t forward messages, you are going to lose clients; if you can’t be found by a potential client because your website is down, you are leaving money on the table. If your network goes down while you’re cramming for that important trial, and you suddenly can’t access your online library, you might as well call the opposition and concede. A full service I.T. provider will keep your network running smoothly, ensuring that both you and your critical data and systems are always accessible.
6. You’ll Keep Your Law Firm Compliant
You need to keep your clients’ data safe. This is not only best practice; it is the law. However, securing valuable data is a complex process. And servers where lawyers host data are attractive to cybercriminals. Which is exactly when an outsourced I.T. firm comes in so handy. They will take care to turn your “good security intentions” into world class protection of the sensitive data you have the duty to keep away from intruders. Your clients trust you to do everything in your power to protect their information, and the wisest way to do so is by hiring an outsourced I.T. firm.
7. You’ll Be Able to Focus on What Matters Most—Your Practice
You became a lawyer because you wanted to provide legal services, not because you wanted to deal with all the secondary support tasks. The idea of dealing with I.T. issues certainly doesn’t excite you in the morning while you prepare for work. Yet it goes without saying that these support tasks are vital to keeping your firm running smoothly. That’s why outsourcing your I.T. needs is a great solution. You’ll have the peace of mind to know your technology is in good hands. You can focus on winning your cases and growing your practice, while your I.T. company supports you by providing the right technology to meet your goals.
If you want to take advantage of these benefits, we can help. At JMARK Business Solutions, we specialize in providing I.T. services for the legal industry. If you want to increase the reliability of your technology, keep your clients’ data safe, gain a leg up on your competition, and save money in the process, contact us to schedule an initial consultation.
