Running a remote legal business can be tough without the right tools, tips, techniques, and know-how to deliver the best possible results.
Accuracy is essential in the legal sector, as are both punctuality and collaboration. Thankfully, the online world has a great deal to offer in the way of support.
Whether you happen to be a digital nomad, traveling the globe and embracing online global connectivity, or you need a change of scenery from the regular old office, here are some tips to help you practice law from anywhere.
1. Deposition Tools
In an effort to make sure your efforts in the remote legal sector are not hindered by a poor choice of tech tools, utilizing the best software for the job is a must.
A prime example of this is remote deposition software – a huge time saver that you can depend on to deliver accurate transcripts in a timely manner.
It works in real-time, too, so you do not have to worry about that pesky downtime in which it takes to fiddle around with files.
2. Collaboration Software
Collaboration software is also essential for legal professionals, and since there are so many platforms to choose from, it is likely best to opt for a service that provides dedicated tools for the legal sector, like PracticePanther or Clio.
Keeping up with your clients and colleagues is essential while you’re on the road, or indeed, away from the office, but in order to do this, a highly accessible and easy-to-use platform is a necessity.
3. Deadline Management
The utterance of the word deadlines is enough to etch anxiety into the minds of the busy remote legal professionals, but nonetheless, they must be managed if you aim to make remote work viable.
Learning how to prioritize tasks should be among your main points of concern, which you have likely already done as a law practitioner. It is a slightly different concept when it comes to remote work, however, as there are a few more issues that can throw a spanner in the works, such as poor connectivity and software malfunctions.
By keeping ahead of your deadlines and giving yourself a time buffer, you can start to establish a schedule that works for your remote needs.
4. A Lightweight Laptop
On your travels, your laptop will likely be the gateway through which the bulk of your work gets done, so electing to get hold of a lightweight model may be your best bet.
This way, you can quickly get your entire operation in and out of your travel bag while you’re on the move, without having to worry about a clunky computer holding you back.
5. Avoid Public WiFi (If Possible)
Due to the immensely sensitive nature of the legal sector, looking after your data as you travel should probably be top of the agenda.
By avoiding public WiFi (even if it’s safer than it used to be) and instead of using your phone as a hot spot, or investing in a WiFi dongle, you can be sure you aren’t leaving your information unsecured online.
Travel is often a necessity as a legal professional, so taking steps to streamline your remote working processes may be in your best interests, even if it’s not your usual modus operandi.