Legal technology has the potential to revolutionize law firms’ operations, enhancing efficiency, client service and lawyer experience on deals. However, the road to successful implementation can be challenging. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top five common pitfalls that can lead to failed legal tech implementations and provide strategies to overcome them.
1. Lack of user adoption
One of the most significant barriers to successful legal tech implementation is resistance from end-users. Lawyers and staff may be hesitant to adopt new technologies, preferring familiar processes.
How to overcome:
- Involve key stakeholders early in the selection and implementation process
- Provide comprehensive training tailored to different user groups (e.g., Partners, associates, paralegals/trainees), or share our up-to-date use case training videos on our Knowledge Base. Innovation teams at our Customers can access a training checklist in our Onboarding Resources Pack, available in our Admin System.
- Showcase the benefits and time-saving potential of the new technology using case studies
- Appoint “product champions” within practice groups to encourage adoption – once you have data in our Admin System, you can easily see your superusers. For more information about how to do this, see our blog posts on legal tech adoption metrics for innovation teams.
2. Insufficient access and integration
Often, firms fail to make new technologies easily accessible or integrated with existing systems, leading to frustration and underutilization.
How to overcome:
- Implement Single Sign-On (SSO) for seamless access
- Ensure the new technology is easily findable on the firm’s intranet and provide clear instructions on how to access and use the technology on the intranet. Innovation teams at our Customers can access our Onboarding Resources in the Admin System, which includes template intranet wording.
- Reduce barriers to adoption by allowing all lawyers to create matters on Legatics. Innovation teams can closely monitor and track new matters using the Admin System.
- Integrate the tool with existing systems where possible, for example, using Legatics’ integrations with iManage and Netdocs to easily connect to a law firm’s DMS and ensure a single source of truth and version history, and users Docusign accounts to speed up the signing process
3. Inadequate change management
Implementing new technology requires more than just installation; it necessitates a shift in processes and mindset.
How to overcome:
- Develop a comprehensive change management strategy – take a look at our blog posts on the importance of change management and our top three change methodologies for innovation teams.
- Communicate the reasons for change and expected benefits clearly at practice group meetings and within training. Innovation teams at our Customers can access our Onboarding Resources Pack in the Admin System, which includes short summaries of the benefits of using Legatics for Partners, lawyers and clients, and template intranet wording.
- Address concerns and resistance proactively
- Celebrate early successes to build momentum using case studies
4. Lack of ongoing support and training
Many firms provide initial training but fail to offer ongoing support, leading to decreased usage over time.
How to overcome:
- Offer regular refresher training sessions, use our online use cases training resources or contact your Engagement Manager to set up training with our Customer Success team
- Create a dedicated support team or point of contact for tech-related issues
- Link to our up-to-date user guides and FAQs on our Legatics Knowledge Base
- Conduct periodic check-ins to gather feedback and address any issues
5. Failure to measure and communicate success
Without clear metrics and communication of successes, it’s challenging to demonstrate the value of the new technology and maintain enthusiasm.
How to overcome:
- Define clear success criteria tied to business outcomes
- Regularly track and report on adoption metrics. For more information about how to do this, see our blog post on legal tech adoption metrics for innovation teams.
- Share case studies and success stories across the firm
Conclusion
By being aware of these common pitfalls and implementing strategies to overcome them, law firms can significantly increase their chances of successful legal tech adoption.
Technology implementation is not just about the tool itself, but about the people and processes surrounding it. With careful planning, clear communication, and ongoing support, your firm can harness the full potential of legal technology like Legatics to drive efficiency and innovation.
Interested to hear more about how you can boost adoption at your law firm? Find out more about onboarding and adoption at Legatics here. We have also created a unique set of Onboarding Resources for our customers available in the Admin System, which include pre-made content and ideas to kick-start your adoption journey and raise awareness of Legatics with lawyers, Partners and clients. Existing customers can contact their Engagement Manager or the Customer Success team to find out more.
