With the end of 2022 in sight, it’s time to look ahead at what’s to come in 2023. In the past 12 months, the legal profession has been under pressure to adapt to new ways of working and evolve with changing client expectations. Technology has played a key role in reshaping the legal landscape, and while we don’t have a crystal ball, it’s clear that technology will continue to drive legal transformation in the year ahead. 

In fact a recent survey from Wolters Kluwer found that 79% of legal professionals understand the importance of legal technology, and 63% of law firms plan to increase their investment in software to support legal work in the next 12 months. 

As we rapidly approach 2023, we take a look at five key digital trends that will shape the legal profession in the near future.

Increase in Workflow Automation 

Many firms have already adopted workflow automation tools to help drive efficiency and productivity, and adoption continues to pick up speed. In 2022, more than half of legal IT leaders said that their firms were prioritising investment in process automation technologies, such as business intake and compliance tools. We also saw firms start expanding their use of workflow automation tools to conquer firm-specific challenges, such as supply chain checks and trademark enquiry handling. 

Heading into the year ahead, we can expect to see more firms tap into workflow automation to solve a number of unique organisational challenges.

A Shift to the Cloud

The rise of hybrid working has given way to a shift to the cloud. With more staff and lawyers working remotely than ever before, many firms are moving to the cloud to boost agility, increase productivity, and provide a better user experience. A prime example is the more than 92,000 iManage users that moved to iManage cloud this year. 

As move firms move to cloud-based technologies in 2023, IT leaders will need to prioritise data security. Fortunately, cloud-based technologies like Sysero already have integral data security elements built in, such as pseudonymisation, and can be integrated seamlessly with applications like iManage

Rise in Low-Code/No-Code 

In the past year, low-code/no-code applications slowly moved into the legal work space and have already begun shifting the way law firms and lawyers work. Take for example, how London-based law firm Wedlake Bell modernised its process for managing supply chain audit checks with a no-code application from Sysero. Using a no-code workflow, Wedlake Bell can process large amounts of data and efficiently carry out important legal checks on the supply chain, providing a valuable service to its clients. 

The adoption of low-code and no-code applications are bound to increase in 2023, as more firms will look to reduce their IT spending and deliver expedited services to clients. 

Heightened Focus on Data Security 

With cybercrime on the rise and an expanding remote workforce, data security is increasingly important within today’s law firms. In 2022, 75% of law firms in the UK reported falling victim to a cyber attack. Heading into the new year, firms have the opportunity to better secure their data - and protect their reputations. 

While remote workers can make data security challenging, cloud-based technologies like Sysero can go a long way toward ensuring data security and mitigating compliance risk. By embedding compliance into every day processes, digital workflows can be the key to minimising compliance risks and enforcing compliant behaviours. Plus, tools like Sysero also enable you to enforce data protection policies and securely store data using data security best practices, such as pseudonymisation and encryption.

Adoption of Hybrid Workflows

Heightened data security concerns and expanding hybrid working practices have paved the way for a new kind of workflow: the hybrid workflow. Over the last year, firms have prioritised workflow automation systems to drive productivity, efficiency, and cost-savings. However, in the year to come, hybrid workflows will offer an even more flexible and agile approach to process automation and data security. 

Hybrid workflows combine a cloud-based system with an in-house server to enable firms to host workflows on the public cloud, yet store any data captured behind the firm’s firewall. This hybrid approach affords firms the flexibility to easily collaborate with clients via the web, while keeping confidential data securely stored on-premise. 

The Year Ahead

The legal landscape is continually evolving and is certainly due for more change in the year ahead. There’s no doubt that technology will play a significant role in the law firm of 2023, and we expect it will be all about tapping into new ways to drive enhanced client service and better data security. 

To talk about evolving your firm in 2023, get in touch with our team!