The author outlines five compelling reasons to hire a managed IT service provider, including strengthening cybersecurity and achieving business objectives with a. The author outlines five compelling reasons to hire a managed IT service provider, such as strengthening cybersecurity, achieving business objectives with a customized IT strategy, and more. Below are some excerpts from the article entitled Strategic Reasons Why a Law Firm Would Use an External Technology Support Provider. That said, the last thing your company needs is to be stuck in a long-term contract with a technology company that hasn't proven its worth yet.
However, if you add the U.S. Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct and associated cybersecurity updates, you'll struggle to stay ahead of all the compliance issues necessary to run a successful law firm. While the legal sector traditionally takes a cautious approach when it comes to adopting new technologies, the article argues that taking advantage of technologies such as the cloud will allow companies to improve their services. However, before doing so, the law firm must take reasonable steps to ensure that the provider protects the confidentiality of client information on the server.
Technology helps law firms maintain compliance by providing tools to track consent, manage data requests, and implement necessary security measures. Data loss due to system failures, cyberattacks, or natural disasters can be catastrophic for law firms. Similarly, the (third) reformulation of the Law Governing Lawyers, Article 60 (comment d) (2000) (“comment d)”, states that an attorney who obtains confidential information from a client has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect the information against misuse or inappropriate disclosure by his agents. Other laws may also require disclosure to the customer, for example, notification of a data security breach. Investing in the right tools, ensuring a solid hardware infrastructure, providing adequate training to personnel and implementing cybersecurity measures are essential to maximize the benefits of technology and minimize risks.
For example, ethical opinion 05-04 of the Massachusetts Bar Association (“MBA 05-04”) referred to a situation in which a salesperson periodically accessed a law firm's computer system, including its server and document database, to support the firm's computer software application. Therefore, the law firm that gives the seller access to information in customer files must make every reasonable effort to ensure that the seller has established or institutes reasonable procedures to safeguard the confidentiality of customer information. Contracting for managed IT services can have far-reaching effects, emphasized Jennifer Mazzanti, executive director of Emazzanti Technologies. Running a law firm at a fast pace means that information must be accessible wherever you or your staff need it.
Even after the pandemic, many firms have adopted hybrid working models that allow lawyers and staff to work remotely part time or full time. Companies that take advantage of modern tools can promote themselves as more responsive, efficient, and customer-focused businesses.