Comments on: Cloud Computing and Law Firms http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/ The personal side of Doug Cornelius Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:42:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/comment-page-1/#comment-679 Anonymous Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:53:00 +0000 http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/#comment-679 There are other significant aspects to computing in the cloud - many of these offer all kinds of benefits that are much more complex than just whether fees go down because of increases in efficiency. Take for example the cloud computing that IVDesk (www.ivdesk.com) offers – the solution allows firms to run all of the software they use in the cloud. All of the advanced tools that a firm uses can be run from anywhere without installing any software or buying anything – the same as Google. This leads to a number of benefits for a firm that go far beyond whether hours decrease because of increases in efficiency. Some thoughts that come to mind are the ability to expand to new geographies quickly, or a decrease in turnover because management can be more flexible with staff attorneys (letting them work at home more, etc.). Maybe one that is even more significant is the increased security that solutions like this offer – losing a client because a company laptop is stolen or because you cannot pass a data security audit would be far more costly than any loss in revenue created by increases in efficiency. There are other significant aspects to computing in the cloud – many of these offer all kinds of benefits that are much more complex than just whether fees go down because of increases in efficiency. Take for example the cloud computing that IVDesk (www.ivdesk.com) offers – the solution allows firms to run all of the software they use in the cloud. All of the advanced tools that a firm uses can be run from anywhere without installing any software or buying anything – the same as Google. This leads to a number of benefits for a firm that go far beyond whether hours decrease because of increases in efficiency. Some thoughts that come to mind are the ability to expand to new geographies quickly, or a decrease in turnover because management can be more flexible with staff attorneys (letting them work at home more, etc.). Maybe one that is even more significant is the increased security that solutions like this offer – losing a client because a company laptop is stolen or because you cannot pass a data security audit would be far more costly than any loss in revenue created by increases in efficiency.

]]> By: Dennis McDonald http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/comment-page-1/#comment-650 Dennis McDonald Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:40:00 +0000 http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/#comment-650 Having more people collaborate in order to focus their thinking on a given problem will not automatically reduce the total number of hours required to solve a problem. Someone might actually suggest a new or innovative idea that, to implement, might actually increase the number of hours to solve the problem. Having more people collaborate in order to focus their thinking on a given problem will not automatically reduce the total number of hours required to solve a problem. Someone might actually suggest a new or innovative idea that, to implement, might actually increase the number of hours to solve the problem.

]]> By: Doug Cornelius http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/comment-page-1/#comment-649 Doug Cornelius Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:30:00 +0000 http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/#comment-649 @ Dennis H -<br/><br/>Efficiency and effectiveness are difficult to measure in legal practice. A loss at trial can be won on appeal. A loss can still be a victory if the damages are less than the client hoped for. The preferred outcome for many legal matters at big law firms can vary widely from matter to matter.<br/><br/>Most legal matters at big law firms involve a multitude of types of problems. I have tried mapping out the process for one of the common types of matters I work on and I ended up with enough paper to cover a wall in my office. Some matters have a very straight-line through the process. Others go through a complex zig-zag. <br/><br/>Yes, so of this is just making up excuses. The legal field needs to be more focused on effectiveness and better project management. <br/><br/>As I posted in <a HREF="http://kmspace.blogspot.com/2008/09/killable-hour.html" REL="nofollow">the killable hour</a> clients and lawyers are looking at ways to change. Law firms recognize that the billable is also a cap on revenue and profits. After all, there are only so many hours in the day.<br/><br/>Changes are coming. @ Dennis H -

Efficiency and effectiveness are difficult to measure in legal practice. A loss at trial can be won on appeal. A loss can still be a victory if the damages are less than the client hoped for. The preferred outcome for many legal matters at big law firms can vary widely from matter to matter.

Most legal matters at big law firms involve a multitude of types of problems. I have tried mapping out the process for one of the common types of matters I work on and I ended up with enough paper to cover a wall in my office. Some matters have a very straight-line through the process. Others go through a complex zig-zag.

Yes, so of this is just making up excuses. The legal field needs to be more focused on effectiveness and better project management.

As I posted in the killable hour clients and lawyers are looking at ways to change. Law firms recognize that the billable is also a cap on revenue and profits. After all, there are only so many hours in the day.

Changes are coming.

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/comment-page-1/#comment-648 Dennis Howlett Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:44:00 +0000 http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/#comment-648 @Doug - efficiency is the wrong form of measure. Effectiveness is what clients pay for. Did we get a result? Was it cost effective? Are we resourced correctly? These are very easy measures to adopt and allow the firm to leverage the knowledge it acquires. Put simply: if I have developed a framework for managing a specific type of problem that I can show is effective then apart from tweaking for different client circumstances, I *should* be able to leverage that knowledge and make a higher return but without losing the individual elements that contribute to each case and which themselves have a definable value. <br/><br/>Ultimately it is about recognizing what clients pay for - it sure as heck isn't time - at least when viewed from their perspective. @Doug – efficiency is the wrong form of measure. Effectiveness is what clients pay for. Did we get a result? Was it cost effective? Are we resourced correctly? These are very easy measures to adopt and allow the firm to leverage the knowledge it acquires. Put simply: if I have developed a framework for managing a specific type of problem that I can show is effective then apart from tweaking for different client circumstances, I *should* be able to leverage that knowledge and make a higher return but without losing the individual elements that contribute to each case and which themselves have a definable value.

Ultimately it is about recognizing what clients pay for – it sure as heck isn’t time – at least when viewed from their perspective.

]]> By: Dennis Kennedy http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/comment-page-1/#comment-647 Dennis Kennedy Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:58:00 +0000 http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/#comment-647 Doug,<br/><br/>This might be a little "meta," but let me suggest that it might be cool to do a roundtable article on this topic using Google Docs to create the article.<br/><br/>Great to see you and get the chance to visit with you at ILTA. Your live blogging was fantastic.<br/><br/>Dennis Doug,

This might be a little “meta,” but let me suggest that it might be cool to do a roundtable article on this topic using Google Docs to create the article.

Great to see you and get the chance to visit with you at ILTA. Your live blogging was fantastic.

Dennis

]]> By: Doug Cornelius http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/comment-page-1/#comment-646 Doug Cornelius Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:19:00 +0000 http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/#comment-646 @Dennis<br/><br/>You are pointing out the problems with the billable hour as the revenue model.<br/><br/>Lawyers want to be efficient and deliver value. It is just hard to measure and prove that efficiency. At large law firms, the work is varied enough that is difficult to compare the time and work spent on one case to another case. We lawyers are looking at the issue, as are clients. <br/><br/>One of the reason my firm established a knowledge management program was because they recognized the need to be efficient and deliver ever increasing value to the firm's clients. The firm understands the value. But they determine the value anecdotedly, instead of through any measureable return. @Dennis

You are pointing out the problems with the billable hour as the revenue model.

Lawyers want to be efficient and deliver value. It is just hard to measure and prove that efficiency. At large law firms, the work is varied enough that is difficult to compare the time and work spent on one case to another case. We lawyers are looking at the issue, as are clients.

One of the reason my firm established a knowledge management program was because they recognized the need to be efficient and deliver ever increasing value to the firm’s clients. The firm understands the value. But they determine the value anecdotedly, instead of through any measureable return.

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/comment-page-1/#comment-645 Dennis Howlett Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:04:00 +0000 http://dougcornelius.com/2008/09/cloud-computing-and-law-firms/#comment-645 The assertion that efficiency leads to lower fees BECAUSE of the tie to fees based on hours put in demonstrates the bankruptcy of what is a Marxist theory of labor value. Your correspondent is opening the door to all sorts of questions being raised about time taken on client work instead of concentrating on the value delivered and therefore the potential for HIGHER fees. The assertion that efficiency leads to lower fees BECAUSE of the tie to fees based on hours put in demonstrates the bankruptcy of what is a Marxist theory of labor value. Your correspondent is opening the door to all sorts of questions being raised about time taken on client work instead of concentrating on the value delivered and therefore the potential for HIGHER fees.

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