How has the pandemic impacted the legal industry?

Law - 03/05/2021

As lockdown finally starts to lift and the working world starts to feel a return to normality, we thought it would be useful to talk about how the pandemic has affected the legal industry over the past year.  

It’s safe to say that there have been plenty of changes across all sectors, and the legal industry is no exception. These changes are likely going to be long lasting, which will undoubtedly affect the way law firms work in the future. 

Let’s take a look at how the pandemic has affected the legal industry, and how Numero can help with those evolving needs.

Law firms have moved to the cloud.  

Due to social distancing restrictions, many firms and in-house teams have been forced to adopt and adapt to cloud computing systems and reduce their reliance on traditional on-premise systems.  

Though some law firms may have experienced a jump into the technological deep-end, moving to the cloud has had many benefits, from more efficient processes, to more secure accounts management. 

Working from home is the new norm.

 According to a survey conducted in 2019 by the Office for National Statistics, of the 32.6 million people in employment at the time, fewer than 30% had worked from home. Only 1.7 million reported working from home ‘regularly’.

This is no longer the case. In fact, by now, most of us are familiar with working from home, and a lot of businesses are planning to continue with this style of working post-lockdown, or at least a mixture of office and home working. 

Legal professionals have had to adapt to this new style of working as well. From virtual client consultations to virtual trials and remote court, adapting has required many solicitors across the country to evolve very quickly, with the constant added pressure to provide top quality service.

As such, firms have invested time and money into digital training and digital systems so they can stay ahead of the game and continue to meet deadlines.

Legal demand has changed.

There have been substantial changes in consumer demand across different parts of the sector, with some areas dropping off significantly and others booming. 

With the introduction of furlough and the closing down of several industries such as events and hospitality, workers have been seeking legal advice with regards to employment law. The same can be said for family law as divorce rates also increased as a result of the pandemic.

With changing circumstances come changing demands. Those firms that specialise in an area with lower demand may need to consider branching out. 

How Numero can help

Legal professionals have had to focus a lot of their attention on adapting and evolving the way they run their firms. That means the established processes (like accounts management) have had to take a back seat. 

Of course, they haven’t become less important, but when firms are putting all their efforts into learning new processes, they most likely aren’t thinking about how they can improve their accounts management.

However, the last thing firms want is to face problems with their accounts. The answer? Outsourcing your accounts. 

Work with us now

You can think of Numero as an extension of your team. We focus on all the accounts so that your firm can continue to step up to the plate and provide those expert legal services your clients want. 

Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can work together. We’d love to hear from you.