Legal tech news – May 18, 2020

How does the pandemic continue to affect the legal industry? – this week’s legal tech news asks. In the US, in April, there was a net loss of 64,000 jobs in the legal sector, bringing the total number of jobs in the industry down to over 1 million. As countries around the world are slowly easing the lockdown measures, they had taken as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, European law firms have scrambled to adjust to the situation which has, out of necessity, seen employees working from home for weeks on end. Adopting technology seems to be the solution for most sectors in these unprecedented times. The past few weeks have seen both the Bar and the Bench embrace technological solutions for urgent hearings. While such a sudden imposition of technology has its own challenges, most believe that it is the way of the future. Read more in this interesting news summary.

The impact of COVID-19 on the legal industry meant the loss of over 64,000 jobs in the legal sector, bringing the total number down to over one million. Also, tens of thousands of lawyers are suffering from pay cuts, while law firms are adopting different austerity measures designed to help them maintain cash flow and navigate these uncertain times. Read more in Above the law.

Where will technology take dispute resolution? – Bar and Bench Magazine asks. Adopting technology seems to be the solution for most sectors in these unprecedented times. The past few weeks have seen both the Bar and the Bench embrace technological solutions for urgent hearings. While such a sudden imposition of technology has its own challenges, most believe that it is the way of the future. Courts are now looking to embrace this “new look” permanently and not restrict it to just the COVID-19 lockdown period. In fact, the Honorable Supreme Court (from the United States) has stated that they will now hear matters through video conferencing on a “large scale”. What does this really mean for the legal profession? Find out more here.

How will European law firms move on from the crisis? This is the main question that the legal sector is asking during this period. One answer comes from France: The French Conseil national des barreaux (CNB) has published a market survey on the consequences of the crisis for French law firms which states that 28,000 French practitioners could leave the profession as a direct result of the ongoing pandemic. As countries around the world are slowly easing the lockdown measures, they had taken as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, European law firms have scrambled to adjust to the situation which has, out of necessity, seen employees working from home for weeks on end. The Leaders League Magazine has spoken with leading European law firms to better understand how they are addressing this unprecedented crisis. Here is what they have to say.

How are lawyers navigating through COVID-19 and the rocky economy? The Law Technology Today has observed that the pandemic has caused rapid changes in the legal profession, and many lawyers are struggling to weather the storm. What can you do to bring your firm through this crisis? – is the main question asked. In this Digital Edge, Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway survey the new landscape of legal and discuss what can be done to keep up with important transitions in the practice of law. They share tips for cybersecurity, video conferencing, obtaining financial assistance, and future pandemic planning. Read more on Law Technology Today.