Last month at the Annual Conference of the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), we saw an interesting trend – more and more law firms are asking how they can use e-discovery technology to provide greater value for clients. ILTA’s Law2020 initiative identifies the factors driving the shift in law firm priorities from reactive e-discovery at any cost to proactive measures designed to maximize value for clients. Ultimately, the client is going to have to drive innovation, and the client has certainly spoken in 2010.
I wanted to share my thoughts on how I believe the law firm of the future can benefit from promoting electronic discovery expertise to its clients as well as how becoming the trusted advisor in this area can lead to greater sustainability for the firm and lower client attrition rates. I found the most recent issue of ILTA’s Peer to Peer magazine (“Law2020”, Issue 2 Volume 26, June 2010) fascinating, and the articles echoed much of what I am seeing in the legal marketplace today. A handful of forward-thinking firms are embracing alternative fee agreements (AFAs) and promoting technology and efficiency to their clients in an attempt to both reduce the cost of the legal services being provided but also improve the overall experience for the client. In an ancient profession, we are seeing the first widespread demand from clients for better customer service and accountability. Clients are shopping multiple firms, and the hooks that firms had in many of their clients are disappearing as more and more corporations bring legal services, such as e-discovery, in house. As one might say, the legal marketplace has become a “buyers’ market.” As Richard Susskind predicts, we may see the legal services provided by law firms become more of a commodity in the coming decade.
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Source: eDiscovery 2.0
By: Brandon D'Agostino
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