1. Workspaces for Collaboration

Within legal professions, teamwork is being given more attention. The increased cooperation among legal experts applies to both the expansion of their working spaces and the management of cases.

For instance, the average size of offices used by law firms has decreased significantly. This is largely attributable to an increased level of cooperation. For instance, more work is completed in conference rooms where people work together rather than in private offices. The inflow of millennials into the legal sector is also thought to be contributing to the growth of these collaborative workplaces, as they may be more inclined and willing to work together with colleagues inside their practice.

Collaborative workspaces will offer a number of noteworthy advantages in 2024. Legal experts can share knowledge and uncover new developments and general information about a case that might not have been recognized or discovered otherwise. For legal professionals, it also makes work less of a chore and more fun. In a collaborative setting where they may bounce ideas off of their peers and hear what they have to say about specific cases, lawyers also tend to feel less under personal pressure.

2. Increased Use of Cloud Technology

A form of cloud computing and data storage known as "private cloud technology" is one in which the law firm using it is the sole owner of the internet infrastructure. In other words, it is not open to the general public and is private. Typically, these private clouds have great (and unique) security measures and procedures in place.

This is especially helpful for law firms that might regularly handle sensitive material (via their clients as well as internal sensitive information). Private cloud technology offers legal firms a more secure and dependable option to conduct business as cybercrimes continue to climb across the nation. As a result, we completely anticipate that in 2024, the trend of law firms using private cloud technology will continue to grow.

Millennials, who typically have a working knowledge of cloud technology and how to use it effectively and efficiently throughout each workday, are also increasingly entering the legal area, as was already indicated. This makes implementing it for legal firms even simpler. This frequently works well in addition to the previously discussed AI and automation techniques, which many legal firms are starting to use more frequently.

3. Automation and Artificial Intelligence

Billing, practice administration, document archiving, and accounting were once the sole purview of legal technologies. Newer developments in legal technology, such as automation and artificial intelligence (AI), will help law firms maintain their competitiveness through 2024 as a result of rising demand.

Due to the exponential growth of data, corporate legal departments and law firms must adopt automated AI software solutions to improve customer experience and streamline data administration.

Contract management workflow automation, one of the top legal tech trends of 2024, is a useful tool for forward-thinking law businesses to stay busy. When law firm management is required to handle routine, non-legal duties including marketing, billing, candidate screening interviews, client interactions, and bookkeeping, it reduces billable hours. By effortlessly handling those repeated procedures, legal automation technology increases efficiency and lowers costs.

The ever-expanding use of AI and automation should be included in your list of the top ten legal function forecasts for 2025.

4. Cybersecurity

Information breaches and cybercrime are on the rise, especially in the legal industry. Numerous law companies have switched from on-site to remote or hybrid work settings, putting a great deal of sensitive data in danger of a hack or breach.

An internet security breach was reported by 30% of survey respondents overall, according to recent research by the American Bar Association. What's worse, many of those questioned had no idea whether or not their law firms had been compromised.

Any expert in the IT legal field will tell you that cybersecurity is still a top concern for lawyers and will likely continue to be one of their largest challenges going forward. Many legitimate employers are now implementing stringent cybersecurity and data protection measures, including remote systems and cloud-based storage options, in response.

5. Alternative Legal Services

Today, a lot of businesses and law firms outsource costly and time-consuming legal tasks that were formerly done in-house to outside organizations known as alternative legal service providers (ALSPs).

ALSPs are independent, specialized businesses that focus on offering in-demand legal services such as: 

• Document review 
• Contract management 
• Litigation support 
• Discovery and electronic discovery 
• Contract lawyers and staffing 
• IP management 
• Investigation support and legal research 

New service categories are continuously developing in the expanding ALSP market, which is a relatively new phenomenon in the legal sector.

6. Inclusion and Diversity Focus

This past year, social justice and tolerance for diversity have continued to be popular dinner-table discussions. Simply expressed, diversity refers to assembling a team of people with a variety of skills, ages, genders, skin tones, religious convictions, and other distinctive traits. An inclusive and tolerant mindset is necessary to achieve workplace diversity, thus it should be a core component of any organization's culture.

These perspectives will be mirrored in the hiring process as employers look for ways to ensure a better cultural fit inside their organizations as law firms and businesses place a greater emphasis on workplace diversity and inclusion.

7. Remote Work

Many law firms and internal corporate legal departments have made telecommunicating and remote work standard operating procedures for staff members, especially in light of the COVID Pandemic's continued threat to job sites and the growing popularity of virtual meetings.

Employers need to develop methods for interviewing and hiring individuals that place a special emphasis on identifying those who can be productive whether they work part-time or full-time from home or an office.

After being employed, lawyers and paralegals who work in remote locations still need to get in touch with courts and other governmental organizations. These legal experts are now utilizing digital interfaces that speed up this delicate process.

8. Freelancing Across Law Firms

The future of the legal profession will be shaped by freelancers thanks to the development of sophisticated technology, cost-conscious clients, and a desire to work from home. Freelance lawyers are becoming more common as they look for ways to escape the bureaucratic and demanding character of law offices and organizations while making a living wage and enjoying a healthier work-life balance, helped by the power of the Internet.

Instead of working at physical offices, independent attorneys and other legal professionals can freely select the specialties and assignments they want to undertake. As a result, those independent contractors are now able to spend more time with their families without feeling pressed for time or under pressure.

These paid consultants are now working with the permanent legal staff at law firms and businesses of all sizes as part of a larger plan to increase productivity at work and lower operational expenses.

9. Paperless Documentation

The necessity to carry around boxes of legal documents has significantly decreased as mobile devices and technology have developed. A laptop, iPad, or even a smartphone can now access the volume of documents that used to fill an entire conference room, freeing lawyers from a life surrounded by mountains of paper.

In 2024, you may anticipate even more legal firms using document automation technologies to reduce their reliance on paper documents as the future of the planet's environment hangs in the balance.

10. Increasing Client Satisfaction

This year, the legal sector is anticipated to change toward a more client-focused strategy, similar to everyone else in today's commercial environment. Client expectations are evolving, from accepting distant legal meeting options like video conferencing to a heightened focus on diversity, inclusiveness, and sustainability.

To be competitive over the next few years, any legal firm with an eye toward the future will need to adopt a hybrid work model and remote operations. Expanding their candidate pool will enable companies to hire people from a wider range of backgrounds, ultimately giving all employees better possibilities for learning and development.

Innovative email automation and client information access will be made possible by practice management solutions that streamline text messaging between legal team members and their clients. When time is of the essence, lawyers who practice in the field will be able to maintain a strict schedule and communicate with clients quickly.

Never Get Left Behind With Lexagle. 

A good contract management platform withstands the test of time, and is constantly improving to adapt and continue to add unique value to its users. Lexagle has created a reliable contract management software immune to both passing and lasting fads, built to deliver and iterate no matter what the legal landscape looks like. Book a demo with us today to find out more.