Freeing Up Time for Fee Earners

In the high-pressure world of law firms, where fee earners are constantly working against the clock, any inefficiency or technical glitch can significantly impact billable hours. For legal professionals, time truly is money. That's where Quality Engineering (QE) and software testing come into play. These disciplines ensure that the tools lawyers rely on are efficient, reliable, and up to the task, allowing legal teams to focus on what they do best: practicing law.

This blog explores how QE and testing can free up time for fee earners, streamline operations, and, ultimately, save law firms and legal departments time and money.

Enhancing Efficiency for Fee Earners

Fee earners—lawyers, paralegals, and other legal professionals who generate revenue by billing clients—rely heavily on software to manage case files, track billable hours, and communicate with clients. The smoother this software runs, the more efficiently they can perform their tasks. Conversely, bugs or system downtime can result in significant time lost.

A 2022 survey by the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) found that 79% of legal professionals use cloud-based practice management systems. However, even with this digital shift, the average legal professional spends about 40% of their time on non-billable work, much of which involves administrative tasks and system troubleshooting.

By implementing robust software Quality Engineering and comprehensive testing protocols, law firms can minimise these disruptions. Here's how:

• Bug Prevention: A well-engineered system reduces the likelihood of bugs and glitches that interrupt workflow. Fee earners won't have to stop their work to deal with software errors, allowing them to focus more on billable activities.

• Process Automation: Quality Engineering can ensure that tools, like contract management software or billing systems, automate repetitive tasks effectively. For instance, with reliable automation, tasks such as document generation or compliance checks can be executed in seconds rather than hours.

• System Stability: Regular and rigorous testing guarantees system stability, meaning fee earners can rely on their tools to work without issue, leading to fewer IT support calls and less downtime.

The result? Less wasted time dealing with technical issues and more time focused on client work.

Reducing Costs and Improving ROI

While investing in software Quality Engineering may seem like an upfront cost, the long-term savings are significant. According to a study by Capers Jones, the cost of fixing a bug post-release is 30 times higher than catching it during the development phase. For law firms, this translates into huge potential savings, both in terms of IT costs and lost billable hours.

• Fewer Workarounds: Without proper testing, law firm staff often need to find temporary workarounds when software fails to function as expected. These workarounds not only waste time but can also lead to billing errors, missed deadlines, and compliance risks.

• Faster User Adoption: High-quality, user-friendly software makes it easier for fee earners to adopt new technologies. The quicker they can integrate these tools into their workflows, the faster the firm can realise the return on investment (ROI) from new technologies. In contrast, poorly tested software requires more time and resources for training and ongoing support.

A McKinsey report showed that companies that optimise software performance can reduce technology-related costs by up to 30%. For law firms, which are increasingly reliant on tech for everything from e-discovery to document management, this reduction represents significant savings.

Minimising Risk and Enhancing Compliance

In the legal industry, compliance is paramount. Law firms must ensure that their software complies with strict data privacy regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, as well as industry-specific security standards.

By incorporating Quality Engineering into their IT strategy, firms can mitigate risks related to non-compliance or data breaches, which can be costly in terms of fines and reputational damage. Rigorous testing can reveal vulnerabilities before they are exploited, ensuring that sensitive client data is adequately protected.

In addition, proper software testing can ensure that compliance-related features, such as audit trails, encryption, and access controls, work seamlessly. This minimises the risk of errors that could lead to non-compliance—errors that are time-consuming and costly to correct retroactively.

Boosting Client Satisfaction and Retention

Clients expect their legal matters to be handled efficiently and securely. Poor software performance can negatively impact client relationships. For instance, if a case management system crashes right before a court filing, or billing errors result in overcharging, clients may begin to lose trust in the firm’s ability to handle their matters professionally.

QE ensures that client-facing systems, such as portals for document sharing or billing platforms, are intuitive and error-free. This leads to better client experiences and can even give law firms a competitive edge. According to the 2023 Wolters Kluwer Future Ready Lawyer report, 82% of corporate legal departments consider technology a key factor in selecting law firms. By ensuring their tech stack is high-performing, law firms can not only retain current clients but also attract new ones.

Supporting Digital Transformation Initiatives

As the legal industry undergoes digital transformation, law firms are adopting more advanced technologies such as AI-powered legal research tools, e-discovery platforms, and contract analysis software. However, these innovations are only as good as the Quality Engineering and testing behind them.

Legal tech investments have surged, with $1.1 billion invested in legal tech startups in 2021 alone, according to Crunchbase. Yet, without QE and robust testing, these investments can backfire, leading to poorly integrated solutions that slow down rather than streamline operations.

Effective Quality Engineering ensures that digital transformation efforts are implemented smoothly, systems are fully integrated, and new technologies deliver the promised efficiencies. This means fee earners can confidently embrace new tools without worrying about functionality or reliability issues.

A Win-Win for Law Firms

Quality Engineering and testing are no longer just IT concerns—they are strategic priorities for law firms aiming to save time and money while maintaining a competitive edge. By preventing bugs, improving system stability, reducing downtime, and ensuring compliance, QE frees up fee earners to focus on their core legal tasks. In turn, this leads to greater efficiency, reduced costs, enhanced client satisfaction, and increased profitability.

In an industry where time is literally money, ensuring the reliability and quality of the software that underpins daily operations is not just a smart move—it’s essential.

If you’re looking to improve the quality of your legal software, invest in proper Quality Engineering and testing to drive quality at pace; saving time, reducing costs, and improving your firm's bottom line.

To discuss how Roq can support your organisation's technology objectives and initiatives, get in touch - ask@roq.co.uk