Ten years of technology throughout ten years of InQuo
InQuo was ‘born’ ten years ago, in 2014, out of our founder Nicola Moore-Miller’s passion for helping law firms with their technology adoption in order to achieve amazing outcomes. As we celebrate the impressive milestone of our tenth anniversary, we review the past decade of technology innovation.
Digitisation of the office
Law firms have moved from an old school set up composed of paper files, manual processes and physical office to a digital workplace made up of electronic records, technology-automated procedures and remote-or-hybrid environment. As such, the contemporary lawyer is untethered from his or her desk.
This shift was already happening, however, the sudden arrival of covid caused rapid acceleration. It was a case of ‘go digital or go bust’ when lockdowns grounded us in our homes overnight. The technology powering the current-day office includes…
Case, document and practice management – Maintaining the electronic records alluded to earlier, this is the central platform for your matter, client and accounts information, whether it’s correspondence templates, document depository, financial data, whatever. This software is designed to produce, store and manage information with ease.
Workflow management – One of this type of software’s biggest selling points is case workflow with automation. This means guidance through the stages of a standard matter by automating structured processes with workflow rules. The amount of human input is minimised so, in turn, your fee earning potential is maximised.
Smartphone app – If every legal professional didn’t already have a mobile phone ten years ago, they certainly do now. The trend initially began way back when with widespread adoption of BlackBerry devices in the business world; latterly, Android and iOS platforms. With the proliferation of smartphones come apps for case management on the go – at home, in police stations, in court and in the community. Traditional barriers exist no more as lawyers become location agnostic.
Cloud computing – Also known as software-as-a-service (SAAS), this concept applies to the migration from on-premise systems hosted by the data centre model to remotely accessed systems hosted in the cloud. Solicitors only need an internet connection to log into their core systems anywhere, anytime, any device, further assisting remote-and-hybrid working.
5G connectivity – Having referenced the web’s vital role in driving the modern lawyer’s technology, the fifth generation or 5G telecommunications standard provides connectivity to most mobile phones. 5G comes with higher bandwidth and faster download speeds for significant time-saving advantages on everyday tasks.
Full fibre broadband – In a similar vein, broadband technology has advanced rapidly, now promising superfast speeds, less buffering, fewer dropouts and reduced slowdown, even at busier times. From a professional perspective, full fibre broadband permits a productivity boost.
Artificial intelligence – AI has emerged onto the legal scene in numerous guides, from chatbots mimicking human conversation through text or voice interactions, to generative AI applications for content creation in every format, to e-discovery software sourcing case- or claim-specific evidence. Ultimately, AI is anything simulating human intelligence by machines performing tasks typically done by people for major efficiency benefits.
Data-driven decision making – Appreciating the value of data and its insights with regards to making strategic decisions across all aspects of practice, ‘business intelligence’ has become another buzzword in our industry. Law firms own a wealth of data but converting this data into insights is a challenge. It’s made possible by business intelligence systems and their promises to create captivating visual stories that propel practices forward.
Standalone becomes integrated – With so many specialised programs in the marketplace, each performing an essential function for commonplace duties, the ability to connect these disparate tools is paramount. Application programming interfaces, known widely by their acronym API, link tools together using requests and responses, so everything works as one in pursuit of the same goal – this being to tackle incompatibilities, abolish silo operations and digitise processes optimally.
Courtroom video conferencing – Virtual hearings in digital courts is another initiative transforming the UK’s justice system by swapping bricks-and-mortar venues and printed paperwork necessitating in-person attendance for online conferencing technology and electronic documentation with participants joining by video and/or telephone links. Court backlogs are being cleared and the course of justice is being expedited with revolutionary efficiencies for all parties concerned in these virtual proceedings.
Final words
Having taken our readers on a whistlestop tour of all-things legal technology over the past decade, we’ve only touched upon its expansive and diverse perks and rewards. While it’s a huge oversimplification, these technological advancements and developments are truly of life-changing and metamorphic proportions.
At InQuo, our mission is to inspire law firms to harness the power of technology to succeed in an increasingly competitive landscape. Our extensive portfolio of software consultancy and training services are the ideal solution to any technology conundrum. Read more and get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your upcoming projects.