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Legal profession ‘slower to adapt’ to technology

A former law firm CEO who has entered the ongoing legal education industry believes that the legal profession has been slow to adapt to technology developments.

user iconLara Bullock 04 September 2015 NewLaw
Legal profession ‘slower to adapt’ to technology
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Former Swaab Attorneys CEO Bronwyn Pott has had a new start as the head of CPD for Me – an online legal professional development provider that offers an alternative way for legal professionals to complete their CPD commitments.

“I think the legal profession has been a bit slower than other professions to adapt,” Ms Pott said.

“Too often we look inside the profession rather than outside, but no business is immune to the exponential growth of technology, globalisation and changing client expectations.”

On top of those over-arching changes, the legal profession has had the added upheaval of different structural models coming in to the market.

The rise of social media and online management means that small firms and other legal industry businesses can have “amazing reach”, Ms Pott said.

“For a modest cost you can have a very credible online presence – the ‘lean start-up’ isn't just for entrepreneurs, it’s for potential new entrants to the legal profession as well.”

Using continuing professional development as an example, Ms Pott said: “CPD can involve a significant overhead for firms if it’s not managed well and, as the pressure for production increases, the temptation is often to cut costs on training."

She added: “An online learning platform is an ideal way to reduce costs, both from a provider and a user perspective.”

Ms Pott believes the phrase ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ is used as an excuse all too often and that “until recently much of the profession didn't realise their support structure was on fire”.

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Comments (3)
  • Avatar
    <p>Congratulations Bronwyn Pott. I look forward to meeting you and working with you. An excellent and accurate article. I believe one of the reasons the legal industry is slow to take up technology is a lack of suitable education: what they need, why the need it and how it is best applied. Disperse the fear by teaching the industry that technology is not only a useful tool but an integral part of a healthy growing business.</p>
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    Paula Gilmour @CPDforMe Saturday, 05 September 2015
    <p>This is a developing project for us. Bronwyn Pott has been one of my business<br>mentors since MBA days at MGSM in 2002 and then working for Swaab from 2007-2010. It’s been hard work but we have big ideas about where CPD can go and assisting firms to implement action items.</p>
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    Paula Gilmour @CPDforMe Saturday, 05 September 2015
    <p>So thrilled - Bronwyn Pott comes with vast experience being the ALPMA National President 2007-2010, Lawyers Weekly 2010 Practice Manager of the Year and received ALPMA 2012 Legal Innovation Award recently stepping down after 29 years, accomplishing Law 9000 accreditation, growing the firm from a Sole Practice to 15 Partners strong and successful business succession transition.</p>
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