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01 November 2018 / Matthew Kay , Natasha Adom
Issue: 7815 / Categories: Features , Profession , Technology
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Taming the paper monster

Shred, store, or secure? Matthew Kay & Natasha Adom tackle the archiving conundrum

  • Law firms are increasingly seeing the benefits of cutting down on the paper and moving to the cloud.

What is that lurking in the storage cupboard, threatening to strew papers across the floor and make it so hard to find the one document you really need? It’s the paper monster. Beware…

It is no surprise, in the current economic climate, that there are increasing efforts from law firms and businesses alike to cut down on the paper they retain and use by using cloud-based IT and archiving systems. The driver for this is typically to reduce costs (of printing and of storing such documents), increase efficiency, or to decrease the environmental damage paper use is causing. However, there are also other hidden benefits to businesses of taming the paper monster—for example, modernising the workplace to allow agile working initiatives.

Shredding bad habits

There is a vast range in the types of archiving systems that are being used across the legal field.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Church Court Chambers—Maryam Syed KC

Church Court Chambers—Maryam Syed KC

Church Court Chambers welcomes Maryam Syed KC

Devonshires—Sean Garbutt

Devonshires—Sean Garbutt

Devonshires strengthens construction team with appointment of partner Sean Garbutt

Thackray Williams—Alexandra Hubbard

Thackray Williams—Alexandra Hubbard

Thackray Williams strengthens employment team with dual-qualified solicitor

NEWS
Judges and lawyers reviewing the rules of disclosure have ruled out a return to the old system of CPR Part 31, and will consult on proposals to simplify the Practice Direction (PD) 57AD regime by early next year
A consumer organisation has hit back at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for encouraging motor finance compensation claimants to steer clear of law firms and claims management companies
A fast, free and anonymous piece of software has been launched to help law practices comply with their regulatory duty to guard against an increasing onslaught of cyberattacks
A mood of cautious optimism has enveloped the criminal law sector following indications the prime minister may abandon planned jury reforms
The Court of Appeal has held user damages are recoverable in a competition claim, in Meta Platforms Inc and other companies v Gormsen [2026] EWCA Civ 993
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