Paper Example on Technology & Legal Profession: Implications of Modern Advances

Introduction

It is undoubtedly evident that in the modern epoch, there have been tremendous technological advancements. Conspicuously, the majority of these advancements have prompted significant implications for the majority of the professions. In some of the instances, they have gone to the extent of restructuring the manner in which various operations in various professions are undertaken. Notably, the legal profession is deemed not to be an exception to this. Precisely, the profession has been faced by these emerging technologies, consequently leading to its reshaping. Fundamentally, the following is a list of how the legal profession is going to be shaped or somewhat is being shaped by the technological advancements:

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• Utilization of legal process outsourcing
• Electronic discoveries
• Use of social networking in the law firms
• Initiation of virtual law firms
• The emergence of tech-savvy legal personnel
• Alternative billing models
• Establishment of the aspect of globalization

Utilization of the Legal Process Outsourcing

Specifically, the legal profession has experienced a universal paradigm modification in the model of delivery precisely for legal services. In essence, this technology has prompted a reshape in the profession substantially due to its aptitude to transfer the duties of attorneys and also offer assistance to the majority of the experts to peripheral vendors situated both overseas and also domestically (Harmon 41).

Principally, one of the chief substantial merits of this particular technology of outsourcing legal operations is that it saves enormous costs. The majority of the legal firms often diminish the structures of cost with the aid of labor arbitrage. Also, the aspect of outsourcing legal works to diverse external vendors consents the various law firms to access high-level endowment and niche proficiency that is no existent that particular law firm. Take an instance whereby a specific firm of litigation is devoid of litigation support proficiency. In such a scenario, that particular law firm may sufficiently and appropriately outsource certain facets of supporting the litigation procedure. Besides, access to peripheral aptitudes is predominantly imperative for minor firms to fill in the prevalent gaps in fundamental competencies. This technology also facilitates domestic organizations to tap into comprehensive know-how. Lastly, this specific technology will reshape the duration of the turnaround time for unrelenting legal ventures. It will also allow the firms to complete a venture in lesser time frames.

Electronic Discoveries

With the aid of electronic discovery technologies, there has been a tremendous restructure in the legal profession. The majority of the amendments to the federal regulations of civil procedure have undertaken through electronic means such that the stored data and information is made sufficiently discoverable in the litigation process (Schaefer 1). In essence is being conducted through sending of electronic mails, voicemails, and electronic calendars, among others. In simpler terms, the event of discovering stored information electronically is what is referred to as electronic discovery.

Specifically, in the legal profession, the technology of electronic discovery happens to be evolving and expanding over time. Basically, the imperative roles of this particular technology in the legal profession include:

• Aiding on e-discovery teams
• Conscripting and communicating legal procedures
• Supporting the gathering, handling, analysis, review, and production of cases
• Acting as a link involving the legal team, IT persons, and records administration persons

Use of Social Networking

It is undoubtedly evident that the legal profession will experience a significant shift in its operations based on the fact that there will be an imperative utilization of social networking tools (Zawacki 121). Remarkably, the legal professionals have commenced focusing on the escalating amount of social media tools available for their disposal for the rationale of accomplishing an assortment of operations and more so career objectives.

Notably, the utilization of social networking in the legal profession will prompt the manner in which the attorneys and the rest of the experts employ, hunt for jobs, communicate, position and discredit witnesses, and lastly, manage their careers. Additionally, the use of various social media tools marketing tools will provide for an imperative platform whereby legal professionals will be able to grasp the broad audiences and realize the events of branding and advertising. Such tools include the following:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube

Initiation of Virtual Law Firms

Precisely, the legal profession will experience a reshaping based on the event the powerful technological instruments are initiated in the industry. Specifically, the majority of these powerful tools happen to be the software-as-a-services, which will offer the professionals a platform whereby they will be able to work virtually from geographical location (Breunig et al.). Evidently, by this era, some of these professionals have already commenced working remotely in their homes.

The initiation of the virtual law platforms will essentially allow for flexible working durations and substitute appropriate work stability for the legal professionals. Indeed, this will also enable the professionals to attend to the clients as they also maintain a relevant work and life steadiness and in their modification to fit in imperative schedules.

The emergence of Tech-Savvy Legal Personnel

In the event, the technologies will be initiated in the legal profession; there will be a significant emergence of more technology expertise in that particular field of work. In essence, an assortment of trends such as the Legaltech will significantly reshape the erudite and competent manner of practicing law. Besides, the majority of the legal professionals who desire to remain relevant will have no other way other than ensuring that they keep pace with emerging trends and consequently they will have to perfect their technological aptitudes (Corrales et al. 5)

Alternative Billing Models

The other way in which the emerging technologies will reshape the legal profession will be through the utilization of alternative billing models. In essence, the majority of the legal firms are experiencing significant pressure to rein in costs. Subsequently, this has prompted some of them to deviate from the old-style billable-hours model.

The utilization of emerging technologies will ensure alternative billing models that may include the following: capped fees, flat, fixed, or blended (Yoon 259). The significance of this precise alternative billing method is that they will serve as a technique to realize the demands of cost-conscious clients and also in establishing a long-term affiliation that, in return, will capitalize on the value.

Establishment of the Globalization Aspect

Through the aid of emerging technologies, the majority of the domestic law firms are reshaping and intensifying their wing across various international boundaries and more so working together with the foreign counsel. Significantly some of them are also establishing various intercontinental mergers that are envisioning at confiscating the conventional borders with the topographical space of practicing law.

Conspicuously, the aspect of globalization happens not to be new to the majority of professions (Cunha 1). Nonetheless, it is obtaining the proper impetus regards various elements such as the advancement of the internet, the emerging technological instruments, the computerization of procedures, and, more precisely, the progress in the field of data security. Globalization endures reshaping the background of the profession as law firms carry on stretching their wings globally.

Counterargument

Apparently, some of the legal professionals opt against the act of embracing the aspect of emerging technologies. It is reasonably imperative to put into consideration the argument by Erika Winston that states adequately that "the event of law practicing happens to be significantly generations old. Thus, the majority of those antiquated mores ought to be considered to be front and center in the legal profession. Essentially, the precise commitment to antiquity counters the technical advancements enormously." Remarkably, the event of reshaping the legal profession ought to be avoided sufficiently, and the act of opting for conventional tools and resources ought to be considered imperatively.

Works Cited

Breunig, Karl Joachim, and Tale Skjolsvik. "The Virtual Future of Professional Service Firms." Academy of Management Proceedings. Vol. 2016. No. 1. Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management, 2016.

Corrales, Marcelo, Mark Fenwick, and Helena Haapio. "Digital technologies, legal design, and the future of the legal profession." Legal Tech, Smart Contracts and Blockchain. Springer, Singapore, 2019. 1-15.

Cunha, Luciana Gross, et al. "Globalization, Lawyers, and Emerging Economies." The Brazilian Legal Profession in the Age of Globalization: The Rise of the Corporate Legal Sector and its Impact on Lawyers and Society (2018): 1.

Harmon, Aaron R. "The Ethics of Legal Process Outsourcing-Is the Practice of Law a Noble Profession, or Is It Just another Business." J. Tech. L. & Pol'y 13 (2008): 41.

Schaefer, Paula. "Attorneys, document discovery, and discipline." Geo. J. Legal Ethics 30 (2017): 1.

Yoon, Albert. "The legal profession and the market for lawyers." The Oxford Handbook of Law and Economics: Volume 3: Public Law and Legal Institutions (2017): 259.

Zawacki, Alyce. "Social media use in the legal profession." Alternative Law Journal 43.2 (2018): 120-125.