Within the legal profession, traditionally characterised by punishing workloads and long hours, stress and poor mental health are common. This can be further exacerbated within the probate sector whilst dealing with, and supporting, vulnerable clients. But it isn’t just never-ending workloads and long hours that contribute to the individuals stress, research from Exizent’s Bereavement Index also showed that 83% of legal professionals find the overall probate process slow and complicated, and 73% believe their firm could handle probate more efficiently. Without the support to conduct their duties from their employers, legal professionals are ladened with further work in an inefficient environment.
Unfortunately, employee burnout is becoming an all-too-common phrase within the industry. In comparison to stress, which normally happens in short bursts, burnout is a chronic and longer lasting response to stressful situations. Research undertaken by recruitment agency Realm Recruit, found that 62% of lawyers said they have experienced burnout as a result of their work, with a further 21% saying they often feel stressed. Of those who said they struggled with burnout of stress, unmanageable caseloads (56%) and lack of work/life balance (44%) were the most common primary stressors, followed closely by poor management (39%).
But how can LegalTech help prevent practitioners from experiencing burnout and help firms retain their key members?
One of the primary benefits of LegalTech is its ability to streamline processes. In the probate industry, this can be particularly beneficial. For example, case management software can be used to track the progress of probate cases, including deadlines and important milestones. Helping to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks and that all necessary steps are taken in a timely manner. It can also make it easier for staff to manage their workload, as they can quickly see which tasks need to be completed and when.
By automating routine tasks, such as data entry and document generation, significant time can be saved for solicitors. For example, LegalTech platform Exizent’s automation of Inheritance and Court forms can save users over 3 hours* per case with one client stating the automation of forms saved them almost half a day’s work on a large case. Freeing up the legal professional’s time to focus on more challenging tasks that require their specialised knowledge and expertise, reducing their overall workload and significantly improving their job satisfaction.
Ultimately, the goal of adopting LegalTech is to improve customer service and improve employee retention. By streamlining processes, automating routine tasks, and enhancing collaboration, law firms can provide better service to their clients. This can help improve customer retention and increase referrals. For example, using LegalTech to provide real-time updates to clients on the progress of their probate case can help alleviate anxiety, at what is already a stressful time, and build trust.
As well as improved customer relations, it is shown that adopting the right LegalTech can also help to retain top talent at the firm by providing opportunities for professional development. By using the right tools, legal professionals can gain new skills and knowledge, which can help them advance their careers and remain competitive in the industry. Firms highlighting their innovation and willingness to adopt new technologies is also very beneficial in acquiring new staff, as the next generation enter the workplace their expectations for technology solutions to be readily available to them is very high. Firms without this LegalTech in place will lack that competitive edge and therefore struggle to attract new talent and retain their current employees.
The use of LegalTech can bring a wealth of benefits to individuals and to the overall firm. By really addressing your employee’s burnout and identifying areas where the process can be improved and streamlined is vital, in most scenarios LegalTech is the solution. By reducing manual labour, increasing efficiency, providing a platform for collaboration and communication, and offering opportunities for professional development, LegalTech can improve job satisfaction and help legal professionals achieve their full potential. As the use of technology in the legal industry continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly clear that LegalTech is an essential tool for success in the probate industry.
To see first hand the difference LegalTech could make to your firm, trial Exizent for free. No credit cards required, just 14 free days to explore the platform and start improving your processes. Alternatively, reach out to our team for a one-to-one overview of our platform and hear how it’s helped other companies, just like yours.
This article was submitted to be published by Exizent as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
