ABA releases report citing top technology trends in law

The American Bar Association’s Legal Technology Resource Center has released the fourth annual ABA TECHREPORT, a comprehensive publication exploring how attorneys are using technology in their practices. ABA TECHREPORT examines data from the LTRC’s new six-volume 2016 Legal Technology Survey Report to highlight key trends — and the practical takeaways — for today’s lawyers.

ABA TECHREPORT is divided into 10 topics and can be downloaded for free as PDFs on:

• Planning and Budgeting
• Technology Training
• Security
• Cloud Computing
• Mobile Technology
• Practice Management
• Blogging and Social Media
• Virtual Law Practice
• Litigation and T.A.R.
• Solo and Small Firm Technology

The PDFs are available at www.americanbar.org/publications/techreport/2016/overview.html.

In each article, a legal technology expert delves into data from the Legal Technology Survey Report and shares their analyses, impressions and predictions for the future. 

For example, TECHREPORT author David G. Ries, Of Counsel in the Pittsburgh office of Clark Hill PLCT, tackles the issue of security. Ries notes that the survey shows that many attorneys and law firms are employing a number of the safeguards covered in the questions in the report and generally increasing use of the safeguards. However, he says the survey shows some attorneys and law firms may not be devoting more attention and resources to security because they mistakenly believe a data breach won’t happen to them. Significantly, 14 percent of respondents overall and one in four respondents from firms with 10-49 attorneys and 500-plus attorneys reported that their firm had experienced a data breach at some time.

The annual Legal Technology Survey Report, which began more than 20 years ago by the ABA Law Practice Division, is recognized as the primary source for information regarding the use of technology by attorneys in private practice. The survey is based on responses by actual practicing lawyers — not consultants, vendors or IT staff.

This year’s report is presented in six volumes, which are now available for sale online:

Vol. 1: Technology Basics & Security
Vol. 2: Law Office Technology
Vol. 3: Litigation Technology and E-Discovery
Vol. 4: Web and Communication Technology
Vol. 5: Online Research
Vol. 6: Mobile Lawyers

All six combined volumes are also available.  To purchase any of the report online, visit www.americanbar.org/groups/departments_offices/legal_technology_resources/publications.html.

The ABA Legal Technology Resource Center is dedicated to helping legal professionals leverage technology to overcome obstacles, identify opportunities and improve their practices. An ABA member benefit provided by the Law Practice Division, the LTRC offers many resources, including Law Technology Today, various publications, monthly webinars, the annual Legal Technology Survey Report and more.
 

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