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Overcoming technophobia ‘requires a shift in mindset’
The principal of a consulting firm discussed how lawyers can overcome technophobia, how to adopt a new mindset in relation to technology, and practical ways they can begin their tech journey.
Jess Feyder
Recently on The Lawyers Weekly Show, Fiona McLay, McLay Legal Consulting principal and consultant, spoke about how legal professionals can overcome technophobia.
Many lawyers have embraced certain tech tools, like video conferencing, yet in many other ways are still working in the same way they did in an office — just through the medium of a video screen, outlined Ms McLay.
This is a real issue for the legal profession, as many are often busy and have very little tolerance for testing and being wrong, she explained.
“Things like cyber security and using two-factor authentication — you just have to do. That’s not an option.
“Being able to work paperless and remotely is something that people should really look at because that can have huge advantages,” she noted.
But for adopting other tools, individuals have to find their own way of being efficient and effective, she noted.
For many lawyers, it’s a case-by-case basis to find what tools work for them; Ms McLay explained: “It’s important to understand how people like to work, what their preferences are, and find tools that suit the way they’re working.”
For many lawyers, it requires a shift in mindset, highlighted Ms McLay.
“It’s a hard thing to embrace that growth mindset of being prepared to try things and have them perhaps go wrong,” Ms McLay explained.
“However, by not embracing the change, your level of performance will start to fall as you drop behind where the rest of the market is.
“There is a real financial and resilience aspect to being able to keep in touch with where things are moving,” she explained.
“Have a look at what other professional services are doing and how your clients are interacting with their other professional advisers.
“If you’re still at a holdout where you’re requiring them to come into an office or work in a paper-based system, how much friction is that just going to cause?” she asked.
Ms McLay acknowledged that against the backdrop of a recession, buying and learning how to utilise new technological tools can remain on the backburner for many.
“In this case, make use of tools you already have.
“Getting tech-enabled doesn’t have to involve going out and buying a whole lot of new shiny products,” she highlighted.
“When I go into law firms, I often see a lot of duplication of functionality they’re already paying for. It’s underused.
“People haven’t really identified some of the use cases for making the most of the tools they already have.”
“There’s heaps of free information around,” she added.
“I don’t think it’s a big spend, but there is some time investment, and I think you can be strategic about identifying things that will make you more efficient so that although you’re investing a bit of time, you catch that up in having more efficient, more effective processes.”
Ms McLay outlined her level of optimism about the legal profession adopting tech.
“I do see some people who really don’t like it and have a very closed mindset around it. I don’t think that I want to spend too much time trying to drag those people.
“Sometimes, you just have to focus your energy on the coalition of the willing, but I do think that if you can show people how you can make their lives easier and how you can solve pain problems, that even people who are a bit closed at the beginning can get that desire to work in smarter ways.
“I remain very optimistic,” stated Ms McLay.
She also shared some words of wisdom about the best method for lawyers to successfully implement tech into their processes.
“I’m a big believer in small efforts,” she said. “Making small improvements along the way lets them accumulate, and by the end of the year, you’ll be a lot better off.”
“Don’t wait until January to work it out when it’s quiet — start incorporating it into how you’re working now.”
