GenZ is Changing Tech Use in the Legal Industry. Are You Ready?

Generation Z, or those born after 1997, is the first group of humans living entirely in the modern digital era. Having grown up with technology at their fingertips, GenZers have the unique ability to learn and master new technology in a heartbeat. And technology is important to them. Unlike the previous generations, GenZers expect access to the latest technology at work. In fact, many of them consider technology platforms as part of their job acceptance process.

As Generation Z enters the workforce, their technology expectations are shaping companies’ talent pools. Why? Because you have to understand their relationship to technology in order to attract the best candidates.

For instance, GenZers have always lived in a mobile tech world. This ready access to smartphones and tablets has made them efficient problem-solvers. They expect to source information immediately, choose the best platform for their needs, and interact with user-friendly, intuitive interfaces. They aren’t confined by traditional business environments, hours, or email; they function outside the box.

So, what does this mean for the legal industry? 

Although legal technology is advancing exponentially, GenZers expect to use the latest and greatest. By lagging behind current technology developments, you risk frustrating this workforce and limiting their productivity.

Here are areas where up-to-date legal technology is critical to keeping GenZers engaged and moving forward:

• Using analytics and sourcing the best data to determine effectiveness and direction. Legacy technology doesn’t give them the information they depend on quickly enough if at all.
• IT security and protection are imperative for every industry, including the legal sector. Keeping your IT security up-to-date prevents breaches, crashes, and other incidents that disrupt business flow.
• Current technology dramatically improves efficiency, freeing up time for efficient, day-to-day business activities, but also for creative, strategic thinking.
• Business works on a global scale. This requires integrating multiple technology platforms and systems to accommodate increased volume and complex information. Speed and continuity are key.

Much of this is common sense. However, only a third of lawyers believe their organization is prepared to keep pace with the rapidly evolving industry. Many are evaluating their IT partners; which provider is best suited to move their firm forward?

What does current technology look like? A perfect example is Thomson Reuters 3E Elite technology paired with AI assistants and cloud-based business intelligence solutions. 3E Elite has the flexibility to retrieve information and source data, the ability to access imperative data on-the-go through mobile devices, and use templated data outputs. Although these systems are new to the legal industry, GenZers are accustom to these platforms and configurations. It’s their norm.

By 2025, it’s expected that most firms will employ five or more Generation Z workers within multiple departments. Aligning your technology with their expectations ensures your firm can tap into their talent.

Not only will these new workers expect updated technology systems, but they’ll also expect everyone on your staff to be using them They don’t remember a time this technology didn’t exist. They might be already looking forward to artificial intelligence, edge native application infrastructure, and the IoT (Internet of Things), like smart speakers, homes, cars, and beyond. If your firm doesn’t embrace their forward motion, they won’t stick around and your firm might suffer.

Like it or not, technology and your firm’s attitude towards it, will greatly influence your future success, failure, progress, or stagnation. The question to ask yourself and your stakeholders: How adaptive to technology are you willing to be? How responsive will you be to the upcoming workforce?

Is your firm’s IT up to date? Considering an upgrade, migration, or expansion? We can help. Our team helps firms around the world develop the best tech solution for their specific needs. For more information, contact us!

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