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14 August 2008 / Greg Wildisen
Issue: 7334 / Categories: Features , Profession , Technology
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Return on investment

Spending on IT is an investment rather than a cost, says Greg Wildisen

In uncertain times, one inevitable consequence is that law firms find themselves having to do more with less. With budgets under pressure, it is more important than ever that law firms get more “bang for their buck”. Yet many law firms appear to find it an on-going challenge to measure ROI (return on investment) from technology. Even so, there are a number of core areas of IT planning where some serious and demonstrable gains can be made.

Alignment

First, and perhaps most obviously, a law firm's IT strategy needs to respond to and be firmly aligned with the business of the firm. This may sound straightforward, but with most technology being bought off the shelf, it is not as easy as it seems.

One of the mistakes in the past was buying technology for its own sake rather than considering which parts of the business would benefit from the application of new technology. The process of identifying business needs must

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn adds employee benefits and executive compensation practice in London with partner Richard Surtees

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL appoints new partner and head of intellectual property disputes

Muckle LLP—Roland Fairlamb

Muckle LLP—Roland Fairlamb

Specialist associate solicitor rejoins Muckle’s leading employment team

NEWS
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
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