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Common Pitfalls when Attorneys Adopt New Technology

The legal industry faces unique challenges to the adoption of new technology and digital transformation efforts. This article will discuss the most typical obstacles and introduce a framework that will help firms analyze whether a new tech solution is likely to integrate successfully.

Impediments to technological progress in the legal sector

Time investment. As you likely know, being an attorney isn’t a regular 9-5 job. A recent survey claims lawyers work an average of 66 hours per week[1]. That’s like a typical full-time and part-time job combined. So, all but the largest firms with dedicated IT teams can’t afford to spend too much time implementing new technology. Small firms and solo practitioners simply don’t have the resources to research, test, and deploy complex tech solutions.

Cybersecurity and confidentiality concerns. Legal professionals have needs that go above and beyond the average office worker when it comes to digitization. Due to attorney-client privilege and the ethical responsibility to maintain data security, attorneys need to be extra careful when upgrading their technology. They may have to look for approved ‘legal tech’ solutions when off-the-shelf consumer products don’t meet these standards.

The “billable hour” issue. Although there may be a shift in billing practices in a few firms, most still rely on the time-tested “billable hour” method. It may seem like a paradox, but the increase in efficiency new tech can bring might actually reduce a firm’s profitability due to fewer billable hours plus the cost (initial and ongoing) of the technology itself. While an increase in clients due to more free time could offset this problem, the demand for legal services, especially in less populated regions, probably won’t rise at the same rate.

The partnership model. The traditional hierarchy of law firms puts the “partners” at the top. Depending on the organization’s size, many decision-makers would need to approve any new legal tech initiative. This alone makes it an uphill battle, but add in the fact that partners tend to be older people who may not see technological advancement as a priority, and it becomes a serious deterrent. Obviously, this is a much more significant obstacle at larger firms, but any practice will multiple partners could face a difficult situation.

The “ignorance is bliss” dilemma. Solo practitioners and small firms don’t have the resources of their more massive brethren. This means that tech policies and solutions mega-firms implement have a hard time trickling down. Unfortunately, this can lead to solo practitioners developing an “ignorhttps://www.axel.org/the-10-worst-data-breaches-of-the-decade/ance is bliss” mantra, even if they don’t necessarily believe that to be the case.

For example, whereas large organizations may completely ban the use of insecure applications such as Dropbox for confidential file transfer or storage, smaller practices could still use them due to familiarity. They don’t search out current best practices for data storage because they may fear switching and disrupting their workflow.

While this is an understandable reaction, we urge attorneys to push through this bias for their own sake. After all, if a serious data breach occurs and the lawyer has not lived up to their ethical responsibilities, it becomes an even worse situation.

The innovation-decision process

We recommend running through the innovation-decision process before making conclusions about a particular technology’s viability for your firm. This process goes as follows:

  1. Assess comparative advantage. Does the new technology offer a substantial upgrade to your current systems? Define these advantages and review the overall impact they will have.
  2. Analyze compatibility. Does the solution fit into your existing workflow? If not, what resources will you need to allocate to adapt your business practices?
  3. Consider complexity. If you do need to adapt, calculate the cost-benefit analysis (not just financial, but also psychological) of doing so. Will it be a complicated endeavor? Do the results outweigh these complexities?
  4. Evaluate trialability. See if the vendor offers any sort of trial or demo. You can test out the solution, receive critical feedback and preliminary effectiveness metrics before committing to the entire project.

If you go through this process and discern that the tech is worth using, you will be much more confident in the solution and have a greater chance for success.

Your firm and AXEL Go

While the decision will still be challenging in many instances, sometimes the Universe serves up a no-brainer. AXEL Go is a secure, private file-sharing and cloud storage solution that overcomes the common obstacles and scores well on the innovation-decision process.

With the sudden shift toward working remotely, many attorneys find themselves in need of an easy-to-use file-sharing application that can fit seamlessly into their legacy workflow while providing more robust data security. AXEL Go is the perfect solution for any such lawyer. It has many innovative advantages, including:

  • Industry-leading security. AXEL Go runs on a secure, decentralized network that features blockchain integration and file encryption. Documents stored on the network go through a process of “digital shredding,” where only the uploader and recipient (if there is one) have access to the complete file.
  • Secure Fetch. Think of it as a digital courier. You send a secure, encrypted link to a recipient and request certain sensitive documents. They upload the necessary files, and you receive a notification for download. Recipients do not need AXEL Go accounts, meaning you don’t have to badger clients or colleagues to sign up for new services or software. You get to meet data security guidelines without any hassle or inconvenience.
  • Microsoft Outlook integration. You can now send confidential data via email without having to rely on insecure attachments. Using our Outlook plugin, you can send fortified AXEL Go links directly in an email with the click of a button. It’s a simple process that fits within traditional workflows.

With partnerships with the State Bars of states such as Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, and Georgia, it’s fair to say the legal community sees the unique value proposition AXEL Go offers.

According to a 2021 survey by ALM[2], 56% of legal teams consider “data privacy and security” as their primary focus for 2021. It makes sense when you understand the high probability of attempted hacks and data breaches every firm faces today. Don’t just wait around waiting for the inevitable. Be proactive and protect your most sensitive information with AXEL Go.

If you’re interested in seeing it in action, you can enjoy a completely unlocked trial of our Premium service for 14-days. Sign up today and see the AXEL Go difference for yourself.

[1] “How Many Hours A Week Does A Lawyer Work?”, careerigniter.com, https://www.careerigniter.com/questions/how-many-hours-a-week-does-a-lawyer-work/

[2] “What Do Legal Professionals Expect From 2021?”, Mitratech.com, 2021, https://mitratech.com/resource-hub/whitepapers/alm-survey-legal-tech-plans-2021/

AXEL Go Receives Update with “Secure Fetch” Feature

AXEL developers never stop coming up with ways to improve our privacy-focused file-sharing platform. Sometimes, we wonder when they have time to sleep! They must dream of computer code.

Snooze schedules aside, they’ve outdone themselves with the latest addition to AXEL Go. The feature is called Secure Fetch, and it allows anyone to share on our secure network.

Now, AXEL Go users can request files from anybody -even those that do not have AXEL accounts. All they have to do is send a Secure Fetch to the intended recipient. It’s an open link the recipient clicks. They then upload the requested documents and send them back safely and privately.

Finally, you can stop relying on dodgy email attachments and insecure cloud services to get the files you need. We like to think of it as a digital courier service. Except our couriers don’t stop off for a latte on the way to retrieve your confidential materials.

A feature for professionals

Secure Fetch is an excellent way for professionals to receive documents from clients and colleagues. The ease of use, the flexibility to send anyone a request, and the secure nature of the underlying file-transfer program make it the best choice. Everyone can take advantage of the three remarkable technologies that make AXEL Go an industry leader in data protection.

First, AXEL Go utilizes a decentralized network of servers throughout the world. We call these servers Masternodes, and they use the IPFS protocol to enact peer-to-peer file transfers. The IPFS has significant advantages over traditional HTTP, such as better performance, persistent availability, higher data integrity levels, and decreased likelihood of duplicate content.

The second technological pillar of AXEL Go is blockchain. Known for its inherent security and transparency, blockchain was an obvious inclusion to our platform. Our blockchain produces the AXEL Tokens needed to fuel shares throughout the network. Timestamps are added to each block so that transactions are stored immutably by date. This allows for simple verification of all transfers while keeping files private. It’s the best of both worlds.

The third component of our secure network is optional encryption. When sharing, the sender can password protect the files with AES-256 bit encryption. It is a robust encryption algorithm that safeguards your documents from unwanted viewers.

Using all three in conjunction makes AXEL Go the best way to send files securely and confidentially. Secure Fetch is a bridge that allows non-tech-savvy individuals to gain the benefits of AXEL Go without signing up for an account. We recommend all AXEL Go users to make good use of this revolutionary new feature.

Try it now

AXEL Go is available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. If you’re interested in sharing and storing securely wherever, whenever, try it out today. Sign up for our free, full-featured Basic account and receive 2GB of private storage with enough AXEL tokens to fuel thousands of shares.

Too Many Cloud Companies…Too Few Good Ones

So. . .just how many cloud companies are there?

Since the advent of the smartphone (thanks Apple) cloud companies are popping up on every virtual corner, much like Starbucks did early on.

In my quest to see just how many cloud companies there are, I figured I’d start with a simple Google search.  Right?  I mean Google is the best for this type of thing!

So, I proceeded to type “cloud companies” in a google search bar. 133,000,000 results in just 0.47 seconds.  Yep…I’m that guy.  I broke Google  (sorry Google!).

Ok, so that didn’t really work.

So I moved on to the Google Play store and navigated to apps.  There, I typed in “cloud” and immediately got over 200 apps flooding my screen.  I’m not entirely sure how many apps over 200 because I simply stopped counting.

Ok. . .clearly this approach isn’t working.  So how do we determine just how many cloud companies there are? And moreover, does anyone really care?

Definitely more than 3

At this point, I’ve decided to take the “Owl and the Tootsie Pop” approach (if you’re my age, you’ve seen that commercial) and just saying who cares?

Because in the end, we don’t really care about the number of companies, what we care about is what they can do for us!

As consumers, we all have our “lists” of things we seek in pretty much every aspect of our digital shopping.  My cloud list is relatively short and focuses on (1) ease of use (2) availability of my stuff (3) keeping my stuff safe and (4) being able to share and stream my stuff.

While most of these things seem relatively simple, this is where the list of cloud companies starts to get smaller.  Let’s take a brief look at these four aspects.

The cloud SHOULD be easy…so why isn’t it?

Ease of use is a key for all of us.

How many times have you gone to your app store and downloaded an app that seemed to suit your needs, only to find that you simply have neither the time nor the energy to figure out exactly how to use it?

Or, how many times have you wanted to share some photos with your grandmother and you wind up being her tech-support guru because she’s literally lost as to how to access the files you shared.

You’re not alone.  This happens to all of us.

I’m pretty much a classic tech-nerd (sans the tape on my glasses) and even I get frustrated with some of the choices out there.

Where is that file again?

And what about the availability of our files and images?

This one gets a bit tricky too because it isn’t always as simple as creating a cloud account or installing an app.

Does your app require you to upload all of your files to a single point of storage in the cloud?  Do you need to put everything on an external NAS device connected to your router at home?

Availability is mandatory for all of us, yet, achieving it can sometimes be laborious.

I mean sure, at first you tell yourself “it’ll be great to put all my files in one place, so I may as well just break down and do it”.  But soon you’re back to your old ways and you’ve got files all over the place, spread across every device you own.

Once again, you’re not alone.  I’m notoriously bad at organizing my digital life.

I have some “special” pictures…if you catch my drift

So what about keeping our stuff safe?

I’m not a snapchat or Facebook sort of guy (cause I’m in the witness protection program) but If I was, I’d want to know that I can maintain ownership and control over my images.

Let’s say you’re out taking pictures and you capture some amazing photo of a sunrise or stars reflecting off a lake.  All your friends and followers are suddenly enamored with your photographic prowess and you suddenly become a bit concerned about your ownership of your content.

Again, you’re not alone.

That’s why you see companies watermark their images all the time.  So protection of our digital content is an important aspect of our personal cloud.

If sharing is caring, then I’m a very caring person

And finally, what about the ability to share and stream?

These are hallmarks of social media.  Without the ability to share your files, the very aspect of social goes right out the window.

The ability to get those pictures to grandma safely and simply is just as important as sharing your favorite song with your best friend.

And let’s not forget the frustration of being the tech-support guru for the friends and family you share with.

Quality over quantity

Ok. . .so what’s the point of all this?

It’s simple really.  We’ll never ever know how many cloud companies are out there because as soon as we count them all, more will pop up.

But what we do know is what we need.

Make your own list of priorities for your digital lives as I did above.  Pick and choose the aspects that are important to you and you’ll find that you can quickly eliminate a great deal of companies with just a few simple searches.

And don’t forget to read the user comments in the app stores.  These folks are just like you and me.  They’re seeking something that can help them solve a need, so there’s a good chance that they’ll share something you’re also interested in.

And above all, stay safe.

Make sure you take a little time to vet the companies you choose to share your precious digital lives with.  This is your stuff, not theirs.  Make certain you get to maintain your rights to it!

The Future of Digital Storage

As we rush out to the store to grab the latest and greatest smartphones and bask in the glory that is our never ending thirst for all things media, a thought occurs . . . ”where are we going to store all of this stuff?”

I mean, sure, we proudly flex the muscle of our portable devices, capable of producing 12 megapixel images or shooting full motion video and effortlessly streaming it to our 4k-capable retina display . . . but where is all this data going to be kept?

A cursory glance at the storage market tells us that any portable devices with any real storage capacity come at a premium.  Ok, we get that, so we begin to seek other avenues to store our wealth of media that will still give us instant access.

Naturally cloud storage is the first and most viable option. So we immediately enter our email address, create a quick password, and hop onto the internet to store our digital world.  Initially it’s great!  We can get our stuff from anywhere, and many of the services give us a couple of GBs of space in the cloud for free . . . but at what cost?

The cost equation for the storage of your digital world comes down to “ease of access” versus “control of content”.  Anyone who has read the terms and conditions of the typical cloud companies can tell you that you’re virtually giving up all license and all control of your content once you enter it into a public server.

The cost of your “free 5 GB account” is that your content is no longer in your direct control. Sadly, the only real alternative seems to be spending a significant amount of up-front cash on devices that have more built-in storage, or going to the store and buying one of those cloud boxes that you put on your desk at home and try to configure for remote access.  It’s clunky and costly, but it’s safer.  So how do you decide?

The plot thickens when you realize that every smartphone that is introduced is capable of generating even larger files, videos, images, and media content, yet the storage spaces on these devices continue to remain the same.

So what can be done to enable us to take advantage of all the powerful features of our smart devices without giving up ownership and control of our digital content?

Technology will continue its furious pace towards integration of content and expansion of storage components.  How will that future look and who will win that race? Smart money says that the folks developing smartphone, laptop, and tablet technology will continue to lead.  Why? The answer is simple really.  These devices are not meant to be kept forever.

Look at the typical release cycle for new smartphones and tablets.  Just when you get comfortable with your new device, a bigger-better-faster-smarter alternative hits the market.

And how long do you typically keep your tech devices?  1 year?  2 years? Longer?  Are you the type that has to be on the train to the latest-and-greatest device available? Or are you still carrying around your series one Motorola flip phone?  Don’t worry, there is no wrong answer. But, the fact remains that technology will continue to steamroll ahead whether we’re ready for the “next big thing” or not.

So where does that leave us with our original question about storage and ownership of our content? Will storage manufacturers be able to keep up with the ever-growing needs of the social media networks?

What will the online cloud providers do when they see a market where people still want privacy and control over their digital lives?  Will companies like Amazon and Google own your content in an endless sea of server farms? Or will your network evolve into one that you and you alone control?

As it stands today, we’ve got far more questions than we have answers.  Once thing is certain in all of this commotion . . . technology won’t stop, so keep your eyes on the horizon and together we’ll see how the innovators answer these growing concerns.