As a direct reflection of a law firm’s reputation and brand, it’s very important that legal documents are produced to the highest standard. Lawyers sometimes underestimate the value of a well-presented document, and law firms should ensure that complex editing is done by document specialists with access to the right technology to ensure branding and house styles are consistent. Standardizing the document process is especially important while everyone is working remotely to ensure that the quality of documents doesn’t go downhill.
While there has been a rise of lawyers doing more for themselves, things like numbering and styling will always require expert help. There must be a process in place and a quick way of turning a document around to look and feel exactly as it should – especially when lawyers are sent documents when collaborating with a third party. I tell the lawyers to worry about the document content only – and to send it to me to format as I know I can turn it around in minutes with our styling tools, rather than them spending hours on it manually.
Like many firms, we’ve tried to discourage printing documents while working from home for security reasons including a lack of secure shredding for the majority, and instead tried to encourage a more digital approach to working. We’re seeing significant cost savings in relation to print as a direct result and it’s something we hope to continue even when we’re back in the office. It’s a new mindset for some of our lawyers, but with the right technology in place, it’s easy for them to process changes to documents without having to print them.