We’ve all been looking forward to 2021 since, oh, say, June? While I hate to be anything less than positive, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that 2021 won’t be functionally better just by setting out some new calendars for your law firm.

We have to plan for it to be better.

But we’ve got something that can help us plan for this better year — a lot of data. Website visits, open rates, click-through rates and email signups. New and old client stats. All data can shine a light on your path to a successful and profitable 2021.

The success of the modern law firm hinges on its ability to adapt and pivot. Even before being struck by a global health crisis, the profession has been experiencing significant disruption due to rapid changes in technology that reshaped client expectations. Today, the combination of these two factors results in an urgent need for law firms to embrace change like never before.

So, what will the law firm of the future look like? What can firms do now to succeed amid the chaos and how can they prepare themselves for future disruptions, challenges and pressures? In order to answer these questions, we must direct our focus to the client experience. I spoke with Heinan Landa, founder and CEO of Optimal Networks and author of “The Modern Law Firm: How to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Technological Change,” to get his perspective on how law firms can embrace and deliver on a client-focused strategy. Here he shares his ideas and expertise based on three decades of providing IT services to law firms.  

I’ve noticed throughout my career that it takes any new technology five to 10 years to really infiltrate the practice of law — except during a pandemic. Over the last six months, closed offices and teleworking have created an accelerated environment for the adoption and implementation of new technologies. With the restrictions caused by the pandemic not loosening anytime soon, even those who are extremely leery of new technology platforms may want to rethink their ways.

In that spirit, I share with you my top six tips for mastering the current tech landscape of 2020: