Opening a New Law Firm

Carefully consider your technological needs. At the very least, you need a business phone (cell phone or voice over internet protocol), internet access, computer, means to backup your work and your client’s information, and probably an all-in-one scanner/printer/fax machine. You'll also need specific applications for word processing, timekeeping, billing, accounting, email and contact and calendar management.

Make sure to consider the impact of technology on your practice. Think about what you really want to accomplish and what your comfort level is with technology. From legal research databases to case management software, technology can improve your efficiency and help you manage your practice more effectively. Explore different tech solutions and determine which ones best fit your needs. However, unless you are very tech savvy, you should get some advice from an expert.

Moreover, consider the benefits of adopting a paperless or less-paper system. Starting a new practice provides an excellent opportunity to implement a digital backup system for all files and documents, minimizing the costs associated with storing closed files. This resource may be helpful: The Basics of Cloud Computing.

The Law Society has resources that outline file retention and storage requirements (see the Law Practice Essentials) and available Considerations for Choosing Accounting and Practice Management Software, which are worth reviewing to inform your decision on what applications are necessary for your business. 

Finally, at some point in your career, likely sooner rather than later, you will need to consider if, when and how you will use Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI). Gen AI is rapidly improving, and it is difficult to predict how it will change the practice of law. But its potential impact has been described as “revolutionary” and “seismic”. You can experiment and explore Gen AI but know the risks and be careful. For more information on Gen AI, see the Law Society’s Generative AI Playbook.