TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
In recent years, rapid changes in technology have impacted nearly every profession, including law firms and corporate legal departments. There are several innovations and legal technology trends that are fundamentally changing the way lawyers and paralegals work:
- Cloud storage and mobile access to records: Gone are the days of relying solely on paper files and records. Today, many law firms and corporate legal departments have implemented cloud-storage solutions that allow them to manage vast amounts of information. What’s more, with cloud-based services come mobile capabilities. Thus, paralegals and attorneys can access files and records from virtually anywhere, making it easier to complete work and meet clients’ needs.
- eDiscovery: The discovery process used by legal professionals when preparing for litigation has also fundamentally changed the way paralegals and lawyers work. Thanks to machine learning and artificial intelligence, eDiscovery is faster and more comprehensive than ever.
- Social media: The number of, and popularity of, social media sites has exploded over the past decade. This trend does not appear to be slowing anytime soon. With the wide acceptance of social media as a way for people to interact with one another, legal professionals are embracing social networking to market legal services and to handle client communications.
INCREASED DEMAND
With the continuing wave of retiring baby boomers from all professions, attorneys and paralegals should expect to see an increase in demand in certain practice areas, notably estate planning and elder law.
While there is continued projected future growth for the legal industry as a whole, paralegals looking to specialize in a particular area of law may want to consider one of these practice areas that are predicted to experience above-average growth.
CHANGING ROLES
Given the legal technology trends reshaping the industry, paralegals and attorneys should also expect continued changes to the nature of their roles. With mobile access to files and documents, and readily accepted remote meeting capabilities, more legal professionals will likely work in virtual roles.
As the “gig economy” continues to grow, professionals will likely seek freelance paralegal opportunities or look for part-time roles where they can better achieve work-life balance.
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN EXCITING, EVOLVING LEGAL CAREER?
If you are currently pursuing a legal education or have been considering doing so, there has never been a more exciting time to enter the legal profession. Students enrolled in the Paralegal Studies Associate Degree program at Generations College in Chicago benefit from skills-based training and hands-on instruction designed to incorporate legal industry trends and to help drive students’ future career success.
To learn more about earning a paralegal education from Generations College, which has the oldest two-year paralegal degree program in Illinois, contact us today. When you’re ready to take the next step toward an exciting future, apply online for admission.