How COVID-19 Stands To Change Australian Law

The Coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on the lives of individuals and the operations of businesses across the country, and the world, in the last number of months. This unprecedented pandemic has had a huge influence on how we interact with each other, how business is conducted, how we communicate and virtually every aspect of our lives.

COVID-19 has also had an impact on the legal system in Australia, as the legal marketplace needs to be flexible to deal with these unforeseen circumstances and the changing needs of clients. Lawyers in Essendon have already been greatly impacted by events caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, and it’s possible that COVID-19 could further influence Australian law moving forward.

Continue reading to learn how COVID-19 is impacting Australian law and what the future could hold.

A New Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses and industries to rethink how they do business and the legal industry is no different. Many firms, big and small, have been stuck doing things the same way as they have for years with no reason to change. The Coronavirus crisis has forced many legal firms to take new approaches to how they communicate with clients and how they operate.

Law firms also need to prioritise wellness concerns of staff more than ever before. The legal industry can be a high-stress environment and it has some of the highest rates of mental health issues of any industry. It’s important in these challenging times to look after the wellbeing of your team and ensure that everyone has the help and support that they need.

Embracing Technology

Largely because of restrictions put in place by the government and the uptake of remote working, law firms all over the country have embraced technology. Utilising cloud-based software and communication tools with video capability have been a big change for many firms. However, this uptake in technology will help to modernise the Australian legal system and help to bring many firms into the modern digital era.

For many lawyers, the challenges of using modern technology lie in the lack of personal connection. Working with clients, judges and juries having that personal touch is important and can make all the difference in an important case. This is a challenge that many lawyers will need to find ways to overcome as COVID-19 continues to have an impact.

More Lawyers Working From Home

WFH agreements have become commonplace in law firms across the country as restrictions have limited the movement of people. With your partners and other team members all working from different locations, it can be difficult to discuss strategies, share case details and get feedback from your colleagues. However, as working from home is likely to continue for some time to come, it’s important to find ways to overcome these challenges and ensure that the firm can still operate efficiently and serve clients as well as possible.

Firms will need to reevaluate the value of a brick and mortar office space and focus on building a robust cloud-based system to allow the firm to provide an effective service that clients can trust in. The future of Australian law, like most industries, is likely to become even more digitised going forward. Now is the time to implement changes to ensure your firm is prepared for what lays ahead.

COVID-19 Will Continue To Change The Face Of Australian Law

The COVID-19 situation is still evolving and nobody truly knows what lies ahead for the Australian legal industry. However, it is expected that no matter how the Coronavirus unfolds, that technology and the internet will play a huge role in Australian law going forward. Savvy legal firms are already investing in tools and technologies to modernise and streamline their processes. Ensure you are ready for the new norm by taking the time to digitize as many daily tasks as you can and your law firm will be ready for whatever the post-COVID future might hold.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes