Since the beginning of the legal industry, a lawyer’s greatest asset continues to be an in-depth knowledge of the law and the contexts in which it applies. Being a good lawyer means being able to earn the best possible outcomes for your clients. Being a successful lawyer, however, is about doing this with efficiency and at scale.
Technology makes us more efficient in getting clients the services they need. Mobile devices have become nearly ubiquitous in our society, and consumers have come to expect on-demand attention and seamless experiences across all industries—including professional services—which has set a new standard for the rhythm and pace of client interaction.
It’s a Mobile World…You Just Live In It
According to Mary Meeker’s 2015 Internet Trends report, time spent consuming digital media more than doubled over the course of seven years—from 2.7 hours per day in 2008 to 5.6 hours in 2015. What’s most significant is that this jump occurred almost entirely on mobile devices, increasing from 0.3 hours in 2008 to 2.8 hours in 2015. Now, more than half of all digital media is accessed through a mobile device—a rate of growth that is unparalleled in modern times.
Smartphones have replaced many of our household items—alarm clocks, watches, maps, cameras, flashlights, music players, and more. Studies as far back as 2007 show that 91 percent of adults rarely keep their phones beyond arm’s reach—and this was before most people had phones that were “smart.” We use mobile devices for shopping, ordering food, and planning and booking vacations. Around the world, 69 percent of people rely on mobile banking services—and in many cases, online payment systems circumvent banking systems entirely.
Mobile technology has also changed how we work. A recent Softchoice study looked at the work habits of full-time office employees in North America. It found that 78 percent of workers value being able to remotely access their work, and 86 percent value having flexible hours. In fact, workers value flexibility so much that 70 percent of them would leave their job for more of it. Lawyers are no different, and mobility has always been essential to the practice of law.