How Law Firms Can Transform Legacy Processes with Technology

In the tumultuous times we live in, legal recourse can be, despite its associated stress, empowering. Dire circumstances may mandate legal counsel to assess the best steps at the individual and organizational levels. Unsurprisingly, law firms are receiving a lot of business.

In May 2025, the Thomson Reuters Institute reported that law firms achieved an average growth rate of 7.3%. Key practice areas, such as litigation, are booming, and expenses are slowing. Despite these positive trends, the legal sector must be careful of the possible impact of ongoing geopolitical crises and economic turbulence.

A potential recession could undo much of the growth the sector is banking on. Technological advances can be a reliable way to bolster the success of law firms. They can potentially transform legacy processes that pose security and efficiency risks for the future.

Migrating to Cloud-Based Case Management Systems

Case management is a complex issue for law firms, mandating thorough security and compliance with data protection laws. It also requires checking the current status of various cases. Several law firms rely on legacy case management systems (CMS). These also include practice and document management, i.e., a full-practice assortment.

Lately, though, modern law firms are transitioning to cloud-based and SaaS case management platforms. These systems offer trustworthy security solutions for sensitive data. They also facilitate smoother work for hybrid and remote employees. Legal professionals can access client data from anywhere, which enhances operational efficiency and productivity.

However, implementing this change will require resilient and agile project management. Implementing an organization-wide change can cause resistance and involve a learning curve. Accordingly, the law firm must roll out training initiatives to help its staff become comfortable with the new system and optimize its use.

Digital Transformation of Client-Facing Operations

Legacy processes in client-facing operations also threaten to affect established law firms competing with more contemporary players. These processes include client onboarding, which entails data collection and case relevance, continued assistance during the proceedings, and billing.

Some highly sensitive cases require more attention to these operations than others, which slows down other activities in a tech-averse law firm. For example, the ongoing Oxbryta lawsuit deals with the sickle cell drug called Oxbryta, which has been linked to brain swelling and liver injury in pediatric patients. Dealing with proceedings of this nature entails not only financial compensation, such as medical bills, but also emotional repercussions and personal testimony.

According to TorHoerman Law, clients in such cases should gather prescription records, doctors’ statements, and photographic evidence. Law firms with tech-enabled client interfaces can make this much simpler.

In the billing function, law firms can consider automated payments and e-signatures. They can also facilitate data access to billing information, with in-built features for grievance redressal at any stage. These digital transformation endeavors will not need excessive effort, but they can be fruitful for revenue-linked modernization.

AI-Driven Automation for Accuracy and Time Savings

Many law firms, especially large ones, are burdened by repetitive tasks that eat up resources. Large corporations also find their legal departments stressed and overworked, with little time to focus on strategic growth.

Technologies driven by artificial intelligence can be a game-changer here. They can replace legacy processes in data collection and document reviews to deliver not only time savings but also greater accuracy. The Harvard Law School notes that AI can deliver impressive productivity gains in high-volume litigation matters. Pilot projects in complaint response systems have brought down the required associate time from 16 hours to 4 minutes.

AI-led technological interventions can also promote the overall growth of the sector at large, with smaller firms and ALSPs (Alternative Legal Service Providers) able to take on more projects. In fact, some large law firms also report that they would add services like contract review and compliance monitoring if AI could expedite them.

Typically, repetitive and low-margin tasks like these have been the forte of ALSPs. The American Bar Association notes that this arrangement lets organizations address their legal needs with more flexibility than a traditional, large law firm can provide. As the AI revolution gathers momentum, this dynamic may change.

Technological change is changing the face of several sectors, bringing more agility and responsiveness. Among law firms, too, these advancements are materializing resource savings while improving employee productivity. They are transforming legacy processes by infusing them with efficiency, attention to detail, and customization.

Moreover, adopting these changes signals a willingness to stay attuned to a dynamic landscape, which is essential for players in the legal business.

While planning and implementing these interventions, law firms should ensure to follow a conscious change-management approach that keeps the workforce and other stakeholders informed. Flexible project execution will be essential to avoid communication issues and the creation of silos between different departments, such as human resources and marketing. Accurate goal- and resource-tracking will ensure that the interventions achieve the desired results.