Are Law Firms Ready for Legal Technologies?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 14, 2011 -- The Law Society believes that new technologies will improve the effectiveness of communication amongst those involved in court cases. Many criminal law firms have already successfully taken onboard new technologies in court, as the Crown Prosecution Service aims to become completely digital by April 2012.

The CPS has reported that the use of tablet PC’s will save at least £50m across England and Wales by the time of the next parliament. At a time where the CPS is facing 25 per cent cuts over the next four years, the saving will be beneficial to many parties. Although this begs the question of why is it only the criminal justice system that is being urged to adopt new technologies?

Defence lawyers have already raised objections in a recent Law Society article. These concerns can be rectified with EDT (Electronic Document Transfer) - a highly encrypted platform for archiving and sharing confidential documents online. The cost of purchasing the tablet PC’s is compensated by the considerable reduction in overheads. EDT by Atkinson Lewis is even giving away a free tablet with every Manager account set up as an introductory offer for a limited period.

One of the points raised by defence lawyers is the lack of power points in court. Atkinson Lewis’s Tablet PC’s have 10+ hours of battery life. The task of charging the device, replaces the effort of preparing paper court bundles. Most courts also operate their own secure network which is used by all 52 UK police forces and the wider criminal justice community.

Every law firm encounters difficulties in storing and justifying the costs of managing and distributing bulky, paper court bundles. Storing documents is not only time consuming, it takes up valuable space and staff time to maintain the filing systems and retrieve sensitive information. It results in duplication, labour intensive tasks, unnecessary expenses, along with adding to the carbon footprint. However, electronic communications allow users to send and retrieve documents in a confidential manner.

Despite this, the question lies in why it has taken this long for the legal sector to latch on to newer technologies. The lack of security which bestows many of the electronic transfer systems littering our search engines is a key factor. Such sensitive legal documents rely on the importance of maintaining security and privacy. The legal sector should now seek to establish which services are the most suitable for solicitors and lawyers.

As a result, Atkinson Lewis - case management specialists, have developed an Electronic Document Transfer (EDT) system that fulfils the requirements set by law firms. The system guarantees the highest level of security and it has even been coined as being far more secure than online banking systems. Atkinson Lewis has been working with software specialists to certify that the sensitive documents are protected and can 0nly be accessed by those who have been given permission.

David Atkinson who is MD for Atkinson Lewis and has worked alongside law firms for 15 years said “Our workforce is regularly resolving cases where documentation has been duplicated or distributed insufficiently and this is often due to inadequate surface mail services and hefty court bundles. This means that cases cannot be investigated properly and further delays are the outcome. Cases in which EDT has been utilised are processed much more efficiently and cuts the duration of a case down by a few weeks.”

Moreover, legal firms have become so familiar with their current manner of working with bulky court bundles, that switching to newer technologies seems a monstrous and daunting task. EDT by Atkinson Lewis can provide technical advice from IT professionals whose expertises boast years of experience in the legal sector. EDT is the easiest system to use of its kind and bears the least technology savvy users in mind.

Furthermore, paperwork is now often considered to be outdated, unsecure, inefficient and unprofessional when ‘dog-eared’ paper bundles are presented in court, not to mention it’s not very environmentally friendly. With electronic files, users can send edit, engage, share and retrieve sensitive information with just a few clicks of a button.

Another concern for legal professionals, who are toying with the switchover, is that they are unable to access documents whilst on the go. EDT can utilise other devices i.e. a tablet, by collaborating and synchronising devices with cloud technology. This enables users to access court documents on the go, enhancing work productivity and efficiency by utilising mobile access.

Reducing overheads is a major advantage of EDT as it can save on surface mail costs, staff needs, printing, stationery and postage. To enquire about a free trial for Atkinson Lewis’s EDT service, please contact us on 0330 1002 555, email enquiries@atkinsonlewis.co.uk or visit www.atkinsonlewis.co.uk/case-management/document-archive-storage.

ENDS

For Media Enquiries:
For interview or further information about this topic, please contact Miss. Kathryn Powell, PR Officer for Atkinson Lewis Ltd.
Email: Kathryn@atkinsonlewis.co.uk
Telephone: 01792 578623 ext 148
Address: Atkinson Lewis Ltd., 1st Floor, Unit 1, Ystrad Road, Swansea, SA5 4HJ
Website: www.atkinsonlewis.co.uk/case-management/document-archive-storage

Notes to the Editor:

EDT offers three levels of access:
• Basic Users can view and download any documents assigned to them for free.

• Advanced Users can also upload documents and assign them to existing users for just £30 per month.
• Managers can appoint new users, create groups, start new projects, monitor users and perform other tasks, including retrieval from the archives for £120 per month.

EDT is a brand new Electronic Document Transfer system by Atkinson Lewis. With EDT, every file from your client’s case is scanned, encrypted and uploaded to a secure server - then you (only you) control distribution. Confidentiality assured. Whether you’re sharing legal documents, lab results, Expert Witness reports or entire Court Bundles, it’s a smart, efficient solution that will transform the way you work.

Every Solicitor and Case Manager seems to have the same problem. There’s just not enough space for all those lever arch files that document previous cases. Whether you archive on site or use a document storage facility, there’s a cost to keeping your records intact for the statutory 6-year period.

If you’re over-run with case notes, or running up hefty storage bills, you’ll be pleased to know that there is an alternative. Our new EDT system is a highly encrypted platform for archiving and sharing confidential documents online. Once a document is uploaded, you can share it with people you nominate – safe in the knowledge that no-one else can gain access without your permission.

With its EV SSL certificate and strict document transfer protocols, EDT is the safest way we know to archive and share sensitive information. It will help you in all kinds of ways:
• Security – Keep tighter controls, with no risk that documents will fall into the wrong hands.
• Efficiency – Access current case notes instantly and choose a service level for retrieving archived documents...it’s easier than travelling back and fore to your surface mail collection point.

• Cost control – Electronic storage will cost you a fraction of your physical storage costs.
• Space sharing – A chance to make better use of valuable storage space.
• Eco-friendly – A more responsible way of working –Important for contracts with Local Authorities.

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