This article looks at what cloud computing is, how it is increasingly becoming the need of the hour for law firms and how The Legal Dog has gone a step beyond mere cloud computing and is paving the road to the future.

What is Cloud Computing?

Believe me, even if you don’t know what it is, you have been cloud computing for years! Very simply put, cloud computing allows you, via an Internet connection, to access software or data that is stored and operated on someone else’s computer systems. The cloud computing provider, in turn, uses shared computer resources, including software and servers, to deliver information and services to you, the end user. Ever used Westlaw or Lexis? You have Cloud computed!

Why talk about it now?

For the first time in more than 10 years, in-house legal departments have cut total spending, according to a new survey¹.

More than 60 percent of the 252 survey participants decreased outside counsel spending in 2008 and 2009, according to the Hildebrandt Baker Robbins 2010 Law Department Survey¹.

What all this implies is that Law Firms have to now start rethinking the way they run things and project management strategies have to be rethought. With a reduction in spending by legal departments, three things are set to happen:

1. Price is going to play a big role. No longer are the $400 an hour firms going to get the business, smaller and mid-sized firms are going to pick up a lot of the traditional “big firm business” BECAUSE THEY CAN DO IT MUCH CHEAPER;
2. Larger firms are going to rethink project management and find ways to get more done for the dollar- thereby keeping profit levels the same despite reducing their rates and charging clients less, if they wish to still earn the big bucks; and,
3. Both large and Mid-sized firms are going to have to find new ways to get more efficient and cost worthy. The most likely avenue they will hit will be cloud computing and outsourcing.

LEGALTECH NEW YORK 2011

Between Jan 31^st and Feb 2^nd, 2011, thousands of Attorneys and legal professionals made a bee line to the New York Hilton to attend to LegalTech 2011, New York conference. The conference attracts thousands of Legal professionals who wish to see what’s in store for the future. Many wish to be the trendsetters and implement the new technology they see and “drive” the way forward, rather than just take the ride.

It was no surprise therefore that a majority of the talks were on cloud computing in the legal industry and the launch of several new cloud computing tools with a large focus on E-discovery clubbed with cloud computing as being “the way ahead” and the “future” of the legal industry.

With rising litigation costs and companies cutting litigation costs, cloud computing is becoming all the more important and is seen as an effective way to cut expenditure and get more efficient. It is also the “green” way ahead, paperless and more importantly “gadget free” hence less plastic, less e-waste and less management and less spending!

The Legal Dog LLC.

Guess what? We, at The Legal Dog, just took this a step further. We figure, why restrict practicing law on a cloud to E-discovery, office management and accounting? Why not get your practice going on the cloud? Hence we have now come up with a TRUE practice on the cloud solution. You can not only store your documents, process them, manage them but you can get them indexed, reviewed, coded and incorporated into your office management software! Why stop there? You can get the relevant documents attached to your complaint template, which can also be customized for each individual case!

It gets better. Why not have the case researched and memo ready while we are at it? YES, this is cloud computing and this is the future. Would you like to drive the way forward or wait and hitch a ride??

Author is Head of operations at The Legal Dog, LLC. at their office in Bangalore, India.