10 Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Law Practice
COVID-19 has impacted many businesses, including the legal sector. While some of these changes were temporary, others had a long-lasting impact on nearly every business. For example, the shift from in-person meetings to video conferences is a change in the legal industry that’s expected to last after things are back to normal.
According to a survey by Clio, COVID cases were proportionate to the legal matters reported at the law firm. We’ve also seen a few trends emerging in the legal sector during the pandemic. Let’s check out the most popular ones.
1) An Increased Demand in Specific Legal Areas
While the overall legal sector reported a decrease in the number of cases, the legal matters reported in certain areas of law spiked. Take the COVID-related discrimination and termination cases, for example. Besides, it’s believed that this “increase in the legal cases” trend is here to stay even after the pandemic is over. With employers making COVID vaccines mandatory for each employee, we are expecting a new set of legal matters to arise in the coming years.
2) Remote Work will be a New Normal for Lawyers
Another common impact of COVID-19 on law is the shift to the remote work model. It might be odd for the lawyers to move from face-to-face meetings to audio and video calls, but it is for the best. Not only does it make it convenient for lawyers to organize meetings, but the hybrid working model can benefit the law firm, as a whole. It offers employers a greater level of flexibility, now that they can prepare legal documents, assess cases, and handle other legal matters from the comfort of their homes. It will also help them strike work and personal life balance.
3) Increased Risk of Cyber Crimes
Earlier we mentioned how the remote work model will be a new trend for law firms. With the increased use of document sharing, cloud services, video conferences, and other online legal software applications, there’s a high risk of cybercrimes. Cybercriminals will get an opportunity to hack into online systems and software apps to steal clients’ sensitive data. That’s why it’s important, more now than ever, for law firms to implement the latest technology and upgraded security tools to ensure protection for clients’ data and other confidential information.
4) Problem in Networking
Before the pandemic, socializing was a common practice in all legal firms. It was a way for juniors and interns to build a solid network by connecting it with professional lawyers. Now that law firms are moving to remote work, junior lawyers will need to find new and effective ways to build connections, both inside and outside the law firm.
5) A Strong Online Presence is Mandatory
COVID-19 has impacted the world of marketing for legal businesses. It has changed the way lawyers connect with people who need legal help. More and more lawyers have now embraced online advertising, social media marketing, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, and email marketing. No matter how popular your law firm is, you will lose many clients to your competitors without a strong digital presence.
Search engines and social media are the most powerful tools for marketing. Whether you are looking for lawyers handling COVID-19 vaccine cases or those working on corporate laws, you will most likely find their law firm and services on the internet.
6) Changes in Billing Pattern
Most lawyers charge their clients on an hourly basis, while others have a fixed cost which may vary depending on the complexity of the case. However, law firms are now switching to a cost-effective and flexible billing model to make legal services affordable for clients. They might replace the current hourly-billing pattern with a flat-fee payment. Some lawyers might use the same billing structure in conjunction with fee caps or contingency fees.
Law firms have also embraced contactless payment methods to promote safe and digitized transactions. Although mobile and credit/debit card payments have been a norm in the legal industry for years, experts believe that the legal industry will soon allow clients to pay through cryptocurrency.
7) Technology Skills Will Matter
New lawyers need to prove their expertise in handling cloud apps, document sharing services, video conferencing, and other such software and hardware tools that are mainstream in legal businesses. The growing demand for technology also means law firms will now be more open to automation than before. They will look for lawyers who specialize in technology, in addition to legal matters.
8) The rise in Demand for Alternative Legal Service Provider (ALSP)
The size of a law firm is proportionate to the experience of the lawyers working for the company. Even though the ALSPs concept started much before the COVID outbreak, it is expected to become more common now that businesses are turning to a cost-effective alternative to in-house lawyers. Some common services you can expect from ALSPs include litigation support, discovery and electronic discovery, IP management, document review, and contract management.
9) Lawyers will be Put their Clients Above Everything
The attorney-client relationship will determine the success of a law firm. How you interact with your clients, cater to their requirements, and review their cases are a few things that will play a crucial role in the growth of your legal business. For example, online payment collection and video conferencing have become new standards after COVID. So, it’s the lawyer's responsibility to help clients with technology.
10) Emerging COVID Cases
As the COVID cases in the US rose in 2020, lawyers saw a significant fall in the number of legal matters. That’s why many law firms have adjusted their safety and health policies to the new normal. Law firms are taking necessary safety protocols to prevent the risk of COVID infection among employees, staff, customers, and associates. As a result, law firms will see more legal cases related to COVID—from workplace discrimination to insurance claims and more.
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Author: Shawn Nejad graduated from UCLA with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Shawn started Search Engine Projects (SEP) in 2004. Shawn is a true believer of the "Givers Gain" philosophy by attracting, engaging, and delighting clients to grow their business that provides value and builds trust. @shawnnejad
