Technology has always been a revolutionary force that effectively changes the way industries operate. Like other fields, the legal landscape has been profoundly affected by the introduction of various technological advancements—including the addition of online resources, digital document management systems, and electronically-managed administrative tasks.
As a law clerk, you’ll be working to provide valuable services to help law firms operate smoothly. Your everyday tasks can range from drafting legal letters and conducting legal research to creating legal reports and using specific legal software. Knowing how technology affects the legal field can help you better prepare for your responsibilities in this role.
Legal Professionals Are Increasingly Depending on Technology for Everyday Tasks
More and more legal professionals are starting to rely on various digital tools to complete everyday tasks more efficiently. Things like online databases and video conferencing tools are becoming more reliable and, consequently, more popular for professionals in the field. In fact, digital databases are slowly replacing physical law libraries as resources used by legal professionals and law students to research the law.
E-filing is also becoming more accessible, with Canada’s Federal Court making this process easier for legal representatives. Electronic filing allows involved parties to directly submit essential documents through a guided application process. Canada’s Federal Court also provides e-filing resources, including webinars and video guides, meant to help facilitate the process. Having an awareness of some of these modern resources can be helpful as you take your law clerk training, preparing you to better understand the most up-to-date administrative law procedures.
The Use of Electronic Case Management Software in Law Firms
Law firms are beginning to rely on new legal software for electronic case management, changing how employees handle and interact with case documents. For example, the implementation of legal software programs can help law firms better track deadlines and conduct e-billing transactions, with some offering features like electronic signature capture and document automation.
Shifting to electronic case management through legal management software can help a law firm improve its operations by improving the organization of sensitive information. This results in better archiving and tracking.
Using E-Discovery Practices After Your Law Clerk Training
Students taking law clerk courses might also be interested in understanding more on the innovation of e-discovery. Discovery is part of the litigation process, where litigants “discover” case facts that can be used by legal professionals to evaluate their client’s position. E-discovery refers to electronic information, which can include: emails, text messages, images, videos, audio recordings, social media content, and even meta-data information.
Collecting these e-documents is an essential part of litigation, prompting law firms to use new technological solutions that support efficiency and time-management. Litigation database management tools help legal professionals more efficiently manage electronic evidence via Electronic Database Discovery (EDD). Through this process, technology can be used to input data, import databases, and organize case information.
As a law clerk, you’ll be working with other legal professionals while relying on new technology to get the job done. You’ll likely be using specific databases and legal software to complete your daily tasks—making technology a valuable part of your profession.
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