In the practice of law, we attorneys, like most professionals in their various fields, become accustomed to conducting business and going through our daily work routines with the tools that were made available to us when we first entered into practice. Naturally, there are always updates to the standard software and research tools we use, but generally, people are not receptive to dramatic changes in technology that affect how we do our jobs. However, being resistant to changes in technology can be harmful to your long-term business goals. Embracing changes in technology is a common theme in our office. In the ever-evolving landscape of the modern workplace, technology has become an indispensable tool, reshaping the way we work, communicate, and collaborate. With the advent of innovative practices, organizations are harnessing technology's power to boost productivity, streamline processes, and adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing world. Our office has found that embracing specific advances in technology has changed our firm for the better. 

Without a doubt, the most popular advance in workplace technology deals with automation and artificial intelligence, or AI. AI systems such as ChatGPT and other chatbots have been incorporated into various industries, including the legal arena, to relieve employees of the stress of repetitive and mundane tasks and enabling them to focus on the more creative and strategic duties of their jobs. As an example, AI can populate specific form documents and other routine materials that are commonplace in practice. With AI creating the templates for these documents, attorneys can spend more time focusing on providing the substantive analysis and legal insight to effectively do their jobs. This in turn is more cost efficient for clients, as attorneys are spending less time formatting and more time on actual legal work. Of course, it must be stated that we never allow AI to substitute for the legal reasoning and analysis of our attorneys, as no office should.  

Another popular technological advance has been through the use of virtual collaboration and communication tools. Virtual conferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom that were widely adopted by businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to serve as a great resource for working professionals. Like many workplaces, our office has somewhat evolved from a traditional centralized environment into a more decentralized network. We still have our main “brick and mortar” office in Jacksonville, but being able to use tech to collaborate with clients and other professionals throughout the state of Florida and across the country has proved to be invaluable. Virtual meetings eliminated the need for in-person meetings and have enabled us to save time and resources while maintaining productive discussions both internally and externally. This has naturally evolved to virtual court hearings, which save time by allowing judges to conduct hearings without having all parties meet at the courthouse. Some may argue that this makes for a less formal atmosphere, but the goals of the hearing are accomplished regardless of whether it takes place virtually or in-person. As such, virtual meetings continue to provide flexibility and efficiency in the workplace, making it possible to collaborate effortlessly with colleagues no matter their location.

These are only two of many technological advances in the workplace over the past few years. What makes these advances, along with all the others, effective is when they are deliberately implemented into your daily routines at work. People that resist or are slow to adopt these changes risk falling behind and losing their competitive edge. Instead, accepting technological changes in the workplace is not just advisable; it's imperative for long-term success. Admittedly, I found it more difficult than anticipated to change my habits and take advantage of the benefits of AI or other automated technologies within my practice. However, once I began using these tools on a daily basis, I noticed that my workflow changed for the better. I was no longer getting bogged down by tedious tasks, and I found myself more productive and spending more time focused on my clients and effectively working towards their goals.  

To summarize, embracing and leveraging technological changes at work is a vital step for professionals looking to thrive in today’s business landscape. There will always be disruptors in every profession looking to take advantage of those offices who are falling behind and failing to adapt to more modern practices. It’s incumbent on all of us to not focus on the initial challenges involved with change, but rather take a forward-thinking approach that will ultimately pay dividends in the growth of your business and/or practice. A little pain and discomfort in the beginning is absolutely worth the benefits that result from the change.