Getting Started with Automation for Law: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ali Zahid
August 21, 2023
In today's fast-paced legal industry, efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction are paramount. Automation is the key to unlocking these benefits and giving your firm the competitive edge it needs. If you're a law firm, here's where to start when approaching the implementation and adoption of automation into your practice.
Start by pinpointing the repetitive, time-consuming tasks that take up way too much of your valuable time, especially if they are non-billable. These are often client intake, document creation, client communication, scheduling, and more. Consider making a list of daily or weekly tasks that your team finds tedious, but we'd guess you are likely already thinking of 2-3 tasks that you'd like removed from your plate right now. We can start there.
Take a close look at your existing workflows and processes. Understanding where bottlenecks occur and where errors are most likely to happen can help you determine the areas that can benefit most from automation. Map out each process step-by-step to identify inefficiencies. For example, if you find that document creation involves multiple manual steps prone to errors, this would be a great place for automation to assist you.
Psst... Do you use Clio? To spark some ideas, read our blog about the top 5 Clio workflow automations to boost law firm revenue and improve efficiency.
Once you have a clear understanding of the tasks and processes you want to automate, start researching automation solutions. Look for software specifically designed for the legal industry, as these will be better fit for knowing exactly the needs of your firm. LegalMate offers a range of pre-built automations that can help you get started quickly, along with a tailor-made option that we can customize directly to your needs.
One size does not fit all in the legal industry. After selecting an automation solution, you'll then move into customizing it to fit your firm's specific needs. For example, this will involve integrating the automation to your existing tech stack that fits directly within your workflow you are looking to automate.
Now for the fun part. If you're working with LegalMate, we'll take this part off your plate. Once we have had our onboarding call, our team will begin the implementation, and if you've selected one of our pre-built automations we'll have you up and running pretty quickly. Then, you'll want to bring your team up to speed for anyone who may interface with this automation. If you are going the route of an automation that you have to implement yourself, this would be the step where you get the correct players involved to help get this set up. This might include developers and more people on your team who can support on the technical side of this project.
With your initial automations running smoothly, look for additional areas where automation can benefit your firm. The legal industry is constantly evolving, and staying ahead means continuously seeking ways to improve. As your firm grows, scalable automation solutions can help you manage increased workloads without compromising on quality or service.
One of the most significant advantages of automation is the ability to provide a superior client experience. LegalMate’s automations facilitate faster response times, improve accuracy, and ensure consistent communication. This white-glove service not only meets but exceeds client expectations, setting your firm apart in a competitive market.
The future of the legal industry is automated. LegalMate’s bespoke automations and custom solutions are designed to help your firm increase efficiency, reduce errors, and scale profitably. We are builders, not consultants, and we’re dedicated to being a seamless extension of your team.
If you're interested in getting started with automations with LegalMate, reach out to us today - we can have you set up in minutes.
