How the Newest Tech Changes Cybersecurity Needs in the Legal Industry

Responsibly Adopting Technology to Improve Law Firm Productivity

Lawyers face incredible pressure in their jobs to perform accurately and quickly. Thankfully, technology has been introduced that now allows legal professionals to significantly streamline their processes and improve efficiency while meeting their clients’ needs.

However, many of these technologies introduce ethical and security considerations that lawyers must consider before integrating these tools into their operations. As a result, it becomes essential for lawyers to prioritize responsible practices when adopting these technologies in pursuit of the benefits they offer — otherwise, they could potentially expose their firms and clients to serious cybersecurity risks.

How technology has impacted cybersecurity in law

Technology has long been influential in many of the back-end administrative tasks of running a law firm, but has only in recent years become more prominently used in firms’ cybersecurity measures. For example, technology has been used to ensure secure document management and transaction processing, and as it has evolved, these platforms become more secure and convenient. Platforms now exist that allow lawyers to collect e-signatures, enter into click-wrap agreements, and obtain browse-wrap consent at once to ensure that lawyers have everything they need to enter contracts quickly and simply.

Another technology that has been beneficial in the legal industry is cloud platforms, which allow legal teams to collaborate remotely and ensure consistent accessibility. With the help of this technology, lawyers can access essential documentation on demand and expand teams around the world.

The advantages that technological evolutions like this provide to clients are tremendous, as clients can now effectively have more people working for them to help win their cases. Advanced cybersecurity measures allow these platforms to remain secure by transmitting information and documents in ways that protect clients’ sensitive and confidential data.

Artificial intelligence technology in the legal sector

However, perhaps the most important paradigm shift we see in the legal sector, like virtually every industry, is the recent widespread embracing of artificial intelligence (AI). Although the law field is often seen as fundamentally “human,” many day-to-day tasks that were once left to humans can now be automated and streamlined using AI. For example, many lawyers have seen success in applying AI technology to their case research and analysis processes, allowing them to spend more time on what matters most: working for their clients.

Technology like this has the exciting potential to fundamentally change how lawyers complete their duties — particularly the more monotonous aspects of their jobs. In some use cases, AI models could significantly improve the speed, efficiency, and accuracy with which lawyers complete tasks. For example, in the legal review process, an AI model can be trained to scan for differences in two contract drafts, alerting lawyers to language that may require specific attention and review.

Nevertheless, an element of humanity must be maintained in the legal sector when using advanced tools like AI. Artificial intelligence is still a relatively new technology and, like any fledgling technology, is often flawed and prone to make mistakes. Thus, it is essential to have a skilled human lawyer review any of the work completed by an AI platform. After all, lawyers regularly handle sensitive, confidential information and make decisions that alter the course of lives. Putting these processes into the hands of an artificial intelligence model without human oversight is incredibly dangerous and could potentially lead to drastic consequences.

As such, lawyers must also adopt responsible ethical practices regarding data security in artificial intelligence, as many AI algorithms use the data it is fed by users as part of their training process. Especially when dealing with sensitive or confidential information, lawyers must be intimately familiar with all terms of use and privacy policies for the platforms they use to understand how their data (and their clients’ data) is being collected, stored, and used. Furthermore, it is necessary to implement strict access control policies to ensure that unwanted parties cannot access the data in these programs.

Responsibly shaping the future of technology in the legal sector

Still, when it comes to adopting new technologies in fields as complex as the legal sector, it’s not just about staying ahead of the curve — it’s about defining the curve. How pioneers integrate artificial intelligence into their operations today will shape and determine how the technology can and will be used in the future. For example, current legislation and regulations that are being introduced surrounding the use of AI are informed by discoveries being made through current use cases.

Therefore, lawyers who adopt new technologies improve not just their own work but also their client service and the legal landscape for future generations of legal professionals. Now is the time to get on the ground floor with innovation by embracing new technologies like document management, cloud platforms, and AI, as they will only help lawyers increase the productivity and efficiency of their firms.

About the Author

Robert Scott is a thought leader in managed services and cloud law serving as the Chief Innovator for his latest venture, monjur, with a mission to redefine legal services.  Robert has been recognized as the Technology Lawyer of the Year by Finance Monthly and carries an AV Rating as Preeminent from Martindale Hubbell. He represents major corporations in strategic IT matters including cloud-based transactions, managed services contracts, data privacy, and cybersecurity risk management. Robert is licensed to practice law in Texas and holds memberships in several professional associations, including the Dallas Bar Association and the Managed Service Providers Alliance Board. He regularly shares his insights on the MSP Zone podcast and is a frequent presenter at industry conferences, discussing various subjects such as cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and AI contracts. His depth of knowledge and commitment to his field make him a trusted advisor in the rapidly evolving landscape of technology law. Robert can be reached online at [email protected], on LinkedIn, and at his company’s website https://monjur.com.