Commentary: Leverage technology to build workers’ compensation practice

By Ryan T. Bliss

Like it or not, the legal industry is quickly evolving. Now more than ever, staying ahead requires not just legal acumen but also a healthy dose of technological savvy. As head of a large workers’ compensation department, I know firsthand that harnessing the power of legal technology is essential to managing a high-volume practice. Fortunately, in 2024, the intersection of law and technology offers unprecedented opportunities to streamline processes, grow businesses, and drive better outcomes for clients.

Here are five strategic ways that you, as a tech-savvy attorney, can leverage legal technology to grow and manage a successful workers’ comp practice:

• Embrace (even reluctantly) virtual collaboration: Regardless of your stance on remote work, virtual collaboration and communication tools have become indispensable for modern law practices. Cloud-based accessibility, which allows for seamless collaboration among staff members from any location, is nonnegotiable. Video conferencing and virtual collaboration platforms not only enable real-time communication but also promote flexibility and accessibility among your staff regardless of its members’ physical location.

For many firms, virtual communication tools also have enhanced client engagement by providing convenient ways to meet and consult with an attorney. If implemented appropriately, virtual collaboration and communication tools can help foster a culture of connectivity, productivity and innovation within your practice.

• Make your software do it: Take full advantage of case management software. Modern platforms offer comprehensive features such as document management, task scheduling and a wide array of client communication tools. By integrating case management software into your practice, you can centralize case information, automate routine tasks and ensure compliance with deadlines and filings. By utilizing the right technology for your processes, you also can enhance organization within your files, reduce the administrative burden and improve client service.
• Don’t be afraid of data: Data is a valuable asset that can provide invaluable insights into your practice. A few years ago, my firm started utilizing an intake algorithm to assign a score to every call we received. Over time, we honed the algorithm as marketing strategies shifted and the practice evolved. This data now allows us to quickly identify viable cases and route potential clients to a designated firm representative with minimal delay.

Similar data analytics tools help track key performance metrics such as case lengths and resolution times, client satisfaction levels, and staff productivity.

In your practice, analyzing these data points can identify bottlenecks in your processes and optimize day-to-day workflow. Tracking client satisfaction metrics also can highlight areas where client communication or service can be enhanced. If you want to identify trends, pinpoint areas for improvement and make informed decisions about your legal business, paying close attention to data and analytics is key.

• Automate routine tasks: In any business, particularly a high-volume workers’ compensation practice, automation is key to maximizing efficiency and productivity. At my firm, we use many workflow automation tools within our case management software to streamline routine tasks such as document generation, form filing, deadline tracking and email communications.

By automating these repetitive tasks, we free up valuable time and resources, allowing attorneys to focus on higher-value activities such as case analysis and building trust with our clients.

In your practice, automation can help reduce errors and ensure consistency across your caseload. Look for software solutions that offer customizable automation capabilities to tailor workflows to your specific needs. By leveraging automation technology, you can optimize your team’s efficiency, minimize manual workload, and improve the firm’s overall productivity.

• Be vigilant about cybersecurity and data protection: As digitization continues to increase within the legal industry, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for attorneys. In many jurisdictions, law firms are now ethically required to implement robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive client information and protect against cyber threats such as data breaches and ransomware attacks. We owe it to our clients to stay up to date with these ever-evolving technologies.

But let’s face it — we’re lawyers. Many of us don’t know where to start when it comes to cybersecurity. The good news is that lots of modern software already includes encryption tools, multifactor authentication and secure file-sharing platforms to protect clients’ confidential data. Regardless of your comfort level with technology, you will surely instill more trust and confidence in your clients and mitigate the risk of costly data breaches by educating yourself and prioritizing cybersecurity.

Embracing new legal technology and software is essential if you want to manage and grow a large-volume practice. Whether you’re using case management software to keep your finger on the pulse of your firm, get more Google reviews, find new mass torts or generate detailed return-on-investment reports so you can strategically scale your marketing, you should be using it.

Legal technology can drive better outcomes for clients and your business. In 2024 and beyond, the strategic adoption of legal technology is a cornerstone of success for all forward-thinking attorneys.

Ryan T. Bliss leads the workers’ compensation practice at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin.