Technology

How to make, and save, more money using IT

Here are some ideas about how firms could simplify their life, cut out unnecessary processes, and thereby make – or save – more money. Many of these ideas involve the use of IT and build on the use of email, your web site and internet access to legal resources. I hope you can find at […]

Andrew Woolley

Remote access and flexible working

Nowadays there is no reason why people can’t work remotely – or flexibly – if they have all their information stored electronically and the systems and security in place to support them. Remote access requires documents to be scanned on arrival, wherever they arrive, so they can be made available (electronically) at locations where the […]

Jan Durant

Virtualization

Computers were originally designed to run only a single operating system and a single application but virtualization (usually spelt the American way) breaks that bond, making it possible to run multiple operating systems and multiple applications on the same computer at the same time. Thus, one physical computer can function as if it were two […]

Kieran Gilmurray

Using IT to create dynamic office space

“The trouble with most law firms,” said one specialist from a mid-tier firm recently, “is that they are not using the internet properly to get the most from their corporate property.” What does “using the internet properly” mean in this context? It means making the best use of the flexibility which the internet can bring. […]

Alison Sutherland

Changing practice management systems

To understand the changes currently being made in practice management systems it is worth first having a quick run through the history of this type of software. The first PMSs differed from their predecessor, the humble accounting system, by being based around relational database management systems. This enabled law firms to produce more meaningful management […]

Doug McLaughlan

Does IT matter?

“Does IT Matter?” is the title of a controversial 2003 article in the Harvard Business Review by technology writer Nicholas Carr and also of his follow-up book in 2004 which expands on the theme. The nub of his argument is that IT has become a commodity input and that for most companies there is little […]

Nick Holmes

Who needs an IT department?

Whether you realise it or not, you are probably already outsourcing at least some of your IT via the Internet and it is likely that you will be outsourcing more and more in the future. In this short article I will show why it makes sense to give serious consideration to this form of outsourcing, […]