How Can Lawyers and Paralegals Keep Each Other Up to Date on Cases?

Thanks to advances in digital technology, remote and on-the-go collaboration is more streamlined than ever before—enough so that staff and clients expect team collaboration to progress smoothly, in the office or from home. But how should lawyers and paralegals keep each other up to date on cases?

Note sharing can be a very effective way of keeping your team up to date—but there are a few things to consider. We’ve put together a short list of what to look for, whether your firm is working remotely or in person.

Organization

First, all the notes in the world won’t do you any good if you can’t find them when you need them.^[1]

Organization is key. Look for a practice management system that lets you organize notes by client or matter. With today’s technology, it should be relatively straightforward to type in the client’s name and come up with all the related notes, organized by date. Such steps ensure your whole team is operating on the same information.

Likewise, look for a cloud-based platform so that lawyers and paralegals can access current notes in real time—no matter where they are logging in from.

Security

With our increased use of digital advances come increased cybersecurity risks. Just as client files used to be kept in locked filing cabinets, so must your firm take steps to protect client information today.^[2]

When it comes to notes, make sure your practice management system provides good security. Multi-factor authentication, encryption, and American-based servers are all important things to look for.

At the end of the day, it’s your responsibility to safeguard your clients’ case information.

Streamlined process

The needs of different firms will vary, but your practice management program’s note-sharing system should make your work easier. Look for features that can streamline your workflow—such as the option to share a note with a client through your secure client portal or a one-click method for marking a task as billable—and save yourself some valuable time.

But whatever your preferences, note-sharing shouldn’t be a chore. A cloud-based platform is vital in helping your firm meet todays’ on-the-go expectations—but don’t sacrifice organization or security.

Note sharing should seamlessly enhance your team’s communication, so look for a practice management platform that makes the process easier—and lets you focus on your job.

References

1. Organize or Perish: Five Essential Rules for Solo Lawyers
2. Effective Cybersecurity Is a Law Firm’s Ethical Obligation