As a CEO, I understand how many pieces of your business can demand your attention. Client success and new client acquisition, business development, operational and financial maturity, expert leadership and training for your teams practicing their core skills, and... technology.
For myself, of course, it’s a bit different—we're a Managed IT Services Provider, so obviously we’ve got tech on our mind 24/7. But for the Managing Partners of the law firms we work with, technology is usually one of the last items on the priority list. And I understand why.
You’re busy overseeing a team of attorneys, managing multiple matters and cases, making organizational decisions that affect everything from operations to hiring and beyond, and aspiring to grow or maintain your law firm to meet your long-term vision. Where, in your limited time, can you do the research required or the decision-making needed to truly transform your technology? Often, it seems like an interruption you can’t afford.
Let’s shift that perspective a bit and drill down to the big-picture IT foundations that Managing Partners should consider.
For most, technology simply can’t take up most of their time. Your expertise lies in the business and practice of law, not in the intricacies of document management software or the complex security threats that can change on a dime.
Instead of thinking about the gritty details of your technology, I want to share a few questions specifically for Managing Partners like you to ask. By thinking about the bigger picture and the end result, rather than the day-to-day decisions, you can make informed decisions about your technology and tailor your IT strategy to meet your needs.
Here’s how to reframe the IT conversation.
Confident and strategic IT decisions are made by first identifying business pain points-- not just technology pain points.
Law firms often seek out IT solutions or partners that provide immediate relief to nagging technology pain points. Typically, the pain has become so unbearable—constant drains on productivity, frequent equipment malfunctions, unacceptable support, etc.-- that the law firm scrambles to find a quick solution, usually ending up with what’s referred to as a “break-fix” MSP.
The “break-fix” model refers to a reactionary approach taken by the IT partner: “if it breaks, we fix it.” In theory, this sounds like exactly what your law firm needs. But in reality, these band-aid solutions only prolong issues—they don’t solve them. And sometimes, the fastest or least invasive fix only addresses the surface-level technology issues that you have, not the deeper business issues that they cause or exacerbate.
Instead of only identifying which printers are on the fritz or which software solutions are confusing to employees, for example, try identifying the business issues that cause or are caused by the technology problems. For example:
By viewing technology as a foundational piece of your law practice rather than its own separate responsibility, you become more skilled at selecting an IT partner, browsing solutions, and aligning the heart of your business with the tools that make it function—and you avoid the messy break-fixes that cause more problems than they solve!
How catastrophic would a breach really be at your law firm? When much of today’s cutting-edge technology decisions hinge on risk versus reward, it’s important to ponder an answer to that question... and only you can determine where the line between risk and reward is drawn at your law firm.
Like a bad dose of medicine, breaches have common side effects, which include:
Depending on both the preferences of your stakeholders, including yourself as a managing partner, and the true impact a breach might have on your law firm, you can determine a level of risk-tolerance that dictates technology investments and decisions.
For example, a very risk-tolerant firm may choose to adopt an AI tool quickly and completely, whereas a very risk-averse law firm may want to build a system of cybersecurity safeguards and take their time integrating AI. One is driven by a desire to dive in and innovate within reason, whereas the other is driven by a desire for security and risk mitigation.
While any great IT partner would encourage your law firm to take as many security precautions as possible, there’s no “right” or “wrong” risk tolerance. There’s only your tolerance level, preferences, and needs—and you’ll want to find an IT partner who can meet you where you are on risk tolerance and advise your solutions and services accordingly. That personalized approach helps you manage and avoid critical issues without stifling your technology growth and modernization.
Despite your risk tolerance as outlined above, certain security needs are less negotiable, particularly those that can affect your compliance status.
To map out your security and compliance needs, you may want to consider the following.
Cyber insurance renewals
When does your insurance renewal happen and what are your insurer’s requirements for coverage? An increasing number of cyber insurance providers have been known to deny claims when even one guideline in your policy is unmet at the time of an incident... take this story from Canada as an example.
ABA Guidelines
The American Bar Association, as well as local Bar Association chapters, have released quite a bit of Artificial Intelligence guidance in the last 3-5 years alongside the technology’s explosive growth in the legal industry. These guidelines cover cybersecurity concerns, ethical usage, and education requirements for attorneys and other staff. You’ll want to ensure that any AI projects on the horizon are being carried out by professionals with these guidelines in mind.
Imminent risks
Is your law firm in any imminent risk of cyberattacks or other incidents? How can you find out?
Many law firms have holes in their cybersecurity posture that open them up to imminent threats. These can include:
Because your technology ecosystem encompasses many different solutions and areas that need to be managed, most law firms or their IT partners can struggle to discover, mitigate, and manage these risks. Taking part in a vulnerability scan or security assessment can help you identify imminent risks and urgent security matters, the most critical areas of concern, and begin patching any leaks in your ship.
If you’re considering hiring for a role like IT Manager or Director of IT, it may seem at a surface level that an in-house employee is less expensive of an investment than an IT team. But remember, it’s not just one leader you’ll need to hire—it's a whole team.
However, in nearly all cases, one person can’t manage the extensive legal IT solutions, compliance and security requirements, and day-to-day tickets and maintenance requests alone. Even more so, to balance all of these needs, this IT hire will have nearly no time to pursue professional growth or think strategically about IT. In reality, they will spend most of their time putting out fires and fixing what’s broken—leaving little to no time to help your organization attain strategic goals and gain a competitive advantage.
Though Many MSPs offer fully-managed IT services, giving you access to a full team of professionals for a recurring monthly investment, some MSPs and IT partners also offer co-managed IT. In co-managed relationships, you gain the same access to the experts and professionals on the MSP’s team, but they work in tandem with your in-house talent to help free up time for professional advancement and important core competencies. The best of these partners also provide a strategic partnership, allowing your in-house employees to leverage their research and expertise as a professional consultation with advisory for big-picture goals and IT sustainability.
Often, small to mid-sized law firms benefit greatly from a fully managed or co-managed approach. These investments offer a higher ROI and more talent and resources for the price point than one single salary and add support to new or existing IT teams with ease.
IT doesn’t exist in a vacuum. To determine your IT needs, goals, and next steps, you first should ask, “what are our business goals?”
The trajectory of your law firm depends increasingly, in modern times, on the technology behind your work. In order to achieve your goals, your technology should be dictated by what those goals are—not the other way around.
Does your current IT partner consider those goals? Do they take a strategic approach and design your IT systems around your idea of success as a business?
If not, it may be time to move on. A true IT business partner feels that their success is dependent on your own, and they make an effort to understand your business on a deep level. This helps align your technology roadmap to the overall business success you’re seeking—whatever that may look like for your individual law firm.
As the CEO of Strategic Technology Solutions, an exclusively law firm-focused IT provider, my team and I treat every law firm as an individual entity with individual needs. There is no one-size-fits-all in our strategic partnership approach—your unique idea of success and business operations dictate our work.
Our goal is not to bog you down with IT decisions—it's to relieve you and your team of the stress of navigating today’s complex IT environment. We pride ourselves on building strong relationships, helping our clients grow more confident in their IT decision-making, and providing the best-in-class support you need to keep your work streamlined and peaceful.
If this sounds like the change you need, get in touch with us below. Let’s make your vision happen together.