This blog is not about politics.  But regardless of your politics, we could not escape the noise from the recent election.  It has added a lot of stress for everyone.  While the pressure is not entirely over (and may not be entirely over for many days, months, or years), we always need to be focused on our law-practice obligations.  So, as I asked in my headline:  Now What (at least as it has to do with our office technology needs)?

Nothing.  We still need to maintain tech competence in our work.  We are still dealing with an ongoing pandemic.  You may feel your rights are being violated by having to wear a mask, keeping social distance from others, and appear in places by video. But businesses, courts, and law offices are not moving back to full-time in-person office work-life, depositions, or hearings for the foreseeable future.

First, the Pandemic is not over.  The possible vaccine is not out yet and the means of distribution has not been established.  And that whole process will likely take many (not a couple) of months if not at least a year.

Second, businesses, law firms, and courthouses are realizing there is great time-saving convenience and effectiveness in conducting business, hearing, depositions, etc., remotely.  No travel, no traffic, no hassle!

Lastly, $MONEY$!  Everyone is realizing that video conferencing is saving a lot of MONEY!  Law firms do not need to have everyone in the office for work to be accomplished – this cuts down on overhead – office space, associated furnishing, associated liability insurance, associated electric and internet, time-money loss traveling to and from work every day, and so on.  Lawyers, like any business, are capitalists.

It is the nature of the capitalist beast to make money by saving money.  And it is clear our capitalist society is beginning to adapt to the virtual world (especially since the Pandemic is not going away anytime soon).  Granted, not everything can be done remotely.  But we are still young in this new millennium and have only tapped into what technology can do.  Time will only allow technology to 1. Advance even more and 2. Decrease in costs.  This will likely produce a more virtual legal world that our ethics requires us to be prepared.  Are you ready?

To learn more follow my blog, listen to my podcasts and if you find you need more personal one-on-one help, reach out to me.  I do offer services to help other attorneys one-on-one – in person or virtually.

MTC