Peer to Peer Magazine

P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | W I N T E R 2 0 1 8 19 the value it contains. The cloud enables firms to integrate, collect and analyze these vast treasure troves, which help leaders understand trends, progress to goals and areas of opportunity. Your cloud provider should be able to offer thorough cloud and computer-based training, which ensures top talent is maximizing their time. This means leadership can be developing new business and working with clients, instead of slogging their way through information that may or may not be relevant. 5 . I N S TA N T A C C E S S T O I N F O R M AT I O N A N D S Y S T E M S In the old days of trial work, attorneys used to lug massive boxes and huge briefcases into court. During proceedings, they would frequently have to dig through stacks of papers to find a citation or piece of evidence. Today's leaders have rejected that approach. And why wouldn't they? It was exhausting and inconvenient. According to one attorney who uses the cloud, "My practice can take me across town or across the country. I need my law office to be where I am." With the cloud, files exist at your fingertips, where they can be quickly located and searched. This access frees attorneys from the constraints of the office. Leaders don't stop working when it's quitting time, but they are also increasingly reluctant to spend all their waking hours at their desk when they face unexpected client challenges or deadlines. With the cloud, you can get to the systems, data and files that you need, when you need them. You don't even have to rely on computers anymore since you can retrieve data on a cloud-based systems make it much easier to onboard new hires. From payroll to benefits, your new leader can sign up online or IM HR. The new leader can access cloud-based and centralized training systems, videos, staff information, checklists, client files and more. 3 . C O M M U N I C AT I O N S M E T H O D S You're reaching out to a valued staff member via email but not getting a response. What's your next step? If it's urgent, maybe you Skype or call them. These days, sending an email doesn't make a leader a great communicator. Most professionals are inundated with emails or only check them at scheduled times. The story changes, however, if you have multiple ways to reach out and you know which ones get quicker responses. That's where the cloud comes in. A cloud-based approach eliminates obstacles and allows firms to adopt a variety of technolo communication options based on the recipients' preferences including email, instant messaging systems such as Slack, video, VoIP or apps. Video and screen-sharing capabilities through the cloud can be particularly beneficial for communications by allowing for smoother interactions and helping practice heads be more efficient and feel more connected to their attorneys in other locations. 4 . R E P O R T I N G Law firms collect enormous amounts of data about their operations. Yet they don't always put this information to good use. While much of this information sits in databases and hard drives, today's law firm leaders understand

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