With a reputation for traditional reliance on extensive paperwork and detailed documentation, the legal industry is known for its slower adoption of technology. However, with well-established processes, reliable data sources, and often significant budgets, the profession has the ability for transformative innovation, but it comes with challenges.
A recent report from the Law Society suggests ‘an indifference toward technological advancement among many legal professionals[1]. There is also the critical issue of the public’s trust in legal firms using modern technology.
For example, research commissioned by software provider Dye & Durham, found that just 11% of UK consumers would be comfortable with lawyers and conveyancers using AI[2].
Whilst digital transformation of the sector may be slow, it remains a question of ‘when and how it will happen’, not ‘if’. The caution suggested by the research above is minimised by the potential benefits of a more efficient administrative process, faster responses and an improved client experience.
Looking at the Edge
Squaring this circle has led the sector to prioritise back-office technologies to drive digital transformation. One such technology has been edge computing - processing data closer to its source rather than relying on centralised servers.
This has yielded benefits, enabling legal teams and solicitors to preserve staff confidence and customer trust.
Faster access to evidence: Legal proceedings often involve large amounts of data, from eDiscovery documents to video recordings. Edge computing enables on-site processing and analysis so legal teams can access critical evidence quicker and make informed decisions faster.
Enhanced security and compliance: Sensitive legal data demands robust security measures. Edge technology keeps data local, minimising the risk of breaches during transfer to central servers. Additionally, edge computing can streamline compliance efforts by ensuring data processing adheres to sovereignty regulations.
Improved collaboration: The legal landscape is increasingly dispersed. Edge computing empowers geographically stretched teams to work seamlessly. Real-time data processing at the source facilitates smoother collaboration and, thus, faster case resolution.
Greater cost-effectiveness: Centralised cloud storage and the associated transit of substantial amounts of data can incur significant ongoing costs. Edge computing can reduce these expenses by processing and storing data locally, minimising reliance on expensive cloud infrastructure.
These benefits are examples of the improvements in the quality and efficiency of legal services that can be realised by embracing technology. These are typical reasons for the 48% rise in legal technology investment over the past year[3]. The issue for Edge and all other legal sector technologies is how to make these benefits compelling and clear.
Mike Walker, CITO of Peppermint Technology, an innovative cloud software provider that exclusively serves the legal market, puts forward a tried and tested way to demonstrate the advantages of legal tech, including Edge: “Our industry is embracing technology because increasingly law firms want to focus on the law and leave IT to the specialists. This is the key to unlocking the potential for digital transformation throughout the sector.”
The Peppermint legal service platform has more than 20,000 users. Hosted by Pulsant, with a range of private cloud solutions dedicated to individual legal firms, it brings the power of edge computing to solicitors, conveyancers and other legal businesses without the need for expensive technical expertise.
With an established sector worth in excess of £34bn and more than 40% of European law tech startups based in the UK[4], there is substantial value in accelerating digital transformation within the domestic legal sector.
Edge is a foundational technology for these improvements across the UK regions, enabling agility, security and improved cost-effectiveness.
The case for Edge in the legal industry has never been clearer.
[1]See: Hodgkinson, G. P., Gulati, S., Nokes, K., James, A.D., & Kununka, S. (2023). Solicitors’ attitudes toward law tech adoption: Summary of findings and implications for the legal sector via The Law Society.
[2]See Digital transformation trends in UK law firms | The Law Society
[3]See AI-in-Law-the-Legal-Profession-Industry-Insights-Report.pdf (lse.ac.uk)
[4]See Legal excellence, internationally renowned: UK legal services 2023 | TheCityUK