Peer to Peer Magazine

PEER TO PEER: THE QUARTERLY MAGA ZINE OF ILTA BEST PRACTICES 22 Consumer technology is driving the use of technology in the workplace, as we've seen with BYOD and other recent trends. Many attorneys are comfortable using Skype and FaceTime to have personal, informal conversations with family, and some are beginning to use these consumer-grade video tools with clients, resulting in stronger attorney-client relationships. Video is quickly becoming an enhancement to voice calls and a valuable tool for information-sharing. These personal video sessions are finally delivering the needed face-to-face communication we were promised with traditional room-based videoconferencing. Is your firm ready to implement a video-centric environment? WHAT VIDEO WILL AFFECT Video will change how law firms operate in the following ways: Client Communication: Attorneys will be able to develop rapport with clients quicker with face-to-face interactions. Reports can be shared and collaboration made easier with video-enabled tools. Legal Marketing: The use of video as a method to keep clients informed is a new way of doing business. Clients are much more likely to stay tuned to a video of an attorney presenting the latest news than to an impersonal audio presentation, website or newsletter. Once the video is presented, the viewer and presenter are connected, and the presenter can be quickly seen as an expert. Because timeliness of the information is key, many firms have (or will have) video production and editing capabilities in-house. These services can extend to trial preparation and training needs as well. Matter Management: As the practice of law is becoming more project- based, law firms can learn from the way corporations have adopted video technology. Matter-based project management teams and subject-matter experts usually are not located together. The use of desktop videoconference systems (webcams) can increase the frequency of one-on-one communication as well as the understanding and effectiveness of the communication. Increased communication through video also can improve camaraderie among team members. Staff Communication: Effective internal communication among staff and attorneys will also be enhanced by the use of video. With staff spread across offices, Web-based desktop and conference room video technology can be utilized to make employees feel more connected and able to better understand the needs of the firm. A FIRM'S VIDEO SERVICE PORTFOLIO Each meeting has unique communication needs, and videoconferencing systems based on mobile carts, boardrooms and multipurpose rooms will no longer fit all the needs of the firm. A portfolio of technology systems and meeting spaces is required. A typical portfolio includes these services: Desktop Videoconferencing: With extended use of chat and presence applications — Microsoft's Lync and Cisco's Jabber — desktop videoconferencing (Web conferencing) is a major technology milestone for achieving a video-enabled workplace. These applications are now mature and stable enough to be useful for business. Their adoption rate is quick for consumers but will be quicker for businesses. But firms must have a deployment strategy, a LAN/WAN capacity assessment and articulated polices before advertising or releasing the technology to users. IT resources can become overwhelmed with users requesting or directly purchasing webcams. About the Author Ross Cunningham is a principal at Waveguide Consulting. He specializes in strategic implementation of audiovisual and collaboration systems for the legal market and larger corporate headquarters projects. Ross's 20+ years in the technology industry includes experience in audiovisual strategy and design, IT project management and data center design. He can be contacted at rcunningham@waveguide.com. The Video-Enabled Law Firm The use and prevalence of video is changing everything in our lives. In the coming years, we'll see successful law firms have become truly video-enabled.

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