Peer to Peer Magazine

PEER TO PEER: THE QUARTERLY MAGA ZINE OF ILTA 48 For law firm attorneys, staff and IT departments, there is never enough time in the day to get everything done. But what if you could complete complex projects faster, route work to the proper resources quicker and ensure the person receiving the work has the right instructions to complete the task efficiently and correctly the first time? Technology-enabled workflows can decrease the time it takes to complete tasks and help firms better prioritize projects and make use of internal resources. STOP THE HAPHAZARD AND INCOMPLETE Tasks can be assigned haphazardly or submitted with incomplete information, making attorneys and staff spend precious time following up. Work might be duplicated or missed completely. Who hasn't been delegated tasks with an email that includes ambiguous instructions, incomplete deadline expectations or both? With the right processes and technology, law firms can streamline workflow and task delegation in one easy- to-use universal platform. This master workflow process allows those at every stage to track tasks from start to finish, ensuring accountability at every phase. A range of assignments and tasks can fit easily into a standardized workflow process, from dictation to booking travel. Attorneys, staff and IT departments can all benefit from these types of systems. BENEFITS FOR ATTORNEYS For attorneys, technology-enabled workflows can save considerable time and effort. While it might seem easier to drop a note on an administrative assistant's desk or shoot him/her a quick email message, these types of communications can get lost or misinterpreted. Attorneys then spend a great deal of time tracking down information or clarifying instructions. With an automated, easy-to-complete task order, attorneys send out requests efficiently and can be assured that tasks will be completed to the specifications needed. The right system also allows requests to be submitted on behalf of an attorney by an assistant or another lawyer working on a case. While many lawyers might be reluctant to give up quick access to an assistant down the hall, workflow tools can increase the level of comfort during the transition. Centralization typically allows for specialization of tasks by back-office staff, ensuring the right staff member receives the right assignments and allowing for maximum efficiency. BENEFITS FOR SUPPORT STAFF Workflow software can significantly improve the efficiency of support staff and the clarity of processes. Rather than receiving last-minute requests with crucial details missing, tasks are filtered through a workflow process that uses customized forms for specific types of jobs. These include clear instructions with all necessary information to properly complete the task. For example, if an attorney requests a trip booking, the system will only accept it when all necessary information to complete the task has been added. This approach saves on follow up. When the lawyer specifies at booking whether the trip constitutes billable time, no one has to check back weeks later to plug in that information. Maximize Efficiency with Technology-Enabled Workflows FEATURES

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