Immigration attorneys commonly feel overworked, even with the help of advanced technology for attorneys. They have to deal with mountains of paperwork, attend multiple meetings and hearings, and conduct intensive research. Unfortunately, this doesn’t leave an adequate amount of time to spend with their clients.
Thanks to the ever-changing world of technology, immigration lawyers now have an array of technologically advanced tools that can help to make form filing, client communication, and many more in-office tasks much more efficient.
Immigration lawyers can utilize many types of tools and software to streamline various tasks within their firms. To help you better understand how these new advancements can improve efficiency and workflow in a law office, here is a look at some of the must-have technology for attorneys.
Case Management Software
Keeping track of your client’s cases is one of the most vital parts of running a successful immigration firm. In the old days, attorneys kept the details of their cases in folders and filing cabinets. If the lawyer needed to retrieve information about a case, they would have to thumb through their filing cabinets, which took a lot of extra time.
With case management software, immigration attorneys can easily view all the details of the case with just a few clicks. All meetings, documents, and case updates are stored in one place. Once you search for your client’s name or case number, every piece of information about that case is brought to you promptly and organized.
Key Features
- Case tracking
- Document storage and retrieval
- Scheduling and deadline management
With immigration case management software, you can ensure that you never lose a case detail again. You can also save time by having all of your documents in one place; this will allow you to spend more time working on cases and meeting with clients.
Document Automation Tools
Most immigration attorneys spend a large portion of their workday filling out paperwork. Document automation software uses the latest technology to fill in the paperwork with information that is already on file. For example, if your case management software has the client, name address, and other personal information, the automation tool can retrieve it and automatically place it in the form.
Key Features to Look For
- E-signature capabilities
- Template creation
- Collaboration options
Having the right document automation tool can be a game changer in your firm. This tool not only helps you to save time, but it also eliminates errors that can sometimes occur during manual entries.
Client Communication Platforms
All too often, clients complain that when they call their attorney with an update on their case, the attorney is busy and then forgets to call them back promptly.
With client portals, clients can communicate with their lawyers 24 hours a day. They can leave messages, check on the status of their case, and look to see if there are any documents or forms of identification that the lawyer is waiting for them to submit.
Key Features to Look For
- Secure Messaging
- Scheduling portal
- Secure payment options
- Video conferencing capabilities
Immigration forms that have software that comes complete with a client portal typically have a much higher client satisfaction rate. This is largely due to the fact that clients no longer feel like they are kept in the dark about their cases.
Legal Research and Information Databases
Immigration law requires a lot of research. The immigration laws and regulations are constantly changing. To ensure that you have the latest information on the recent changes, you should have access to the latest legal information.
Certain immigration software, like ImmigrationSpeed, comes equipped with pre-loaded USCIS forms. And when the law or criteria change, the immigration form is automatically updated.
Key Features to Look for
- Automatic updates to USCIS forms
- Comprehensive legal database
You will quickly gain the trust of your clients when you have up-to-date information about the latest laws. If you are not familiar with the latest laws, it could hurt your reputation and cause your client’s case to be delayed.
Data Security and Compliance Tools
Data security is one of the most essential tools in immigration software. Law firms must adhere to strict privacy and confidentiality rules to comply with federal regulations. If you are looking for any type of software or tech tool for your law firm, you need to ensure that it comes with a state-of-the-art security system.
Key Features to Look For
- Data encryption
- Security certification
- Compliant with federal laws
With an inclusive security system integrated into the software that you use, you can ensure that your client’s data is protected. Clients can also have added peace of mind knowing that when they make a payment or upload a personal document into the system, their information will be kept safe and private.
Workflow and Task Management Tools
Immigration forms have a lot of moving parts. There can sometimes be more than one attorney working on the same case. When communication is poor, this can result in multiple lawyers wasting time on the same task.
When you have an innovative task management system in place, you can delegate responsibilities to your teammates. You can also see when they complete a task and which members of your team still have tasks that need to be completed.
Key Features to Look For
- Task tracker
- Deadline alerts
- Team collaboration features
With a task management system, you never have to wonder what task you or your team need to do next. This can help to make your firm more efficient and organized.
Integration and Customization
Not all immigration law firms are created equal. There are certain types of software and apps that some firms will find vital to their daily operations, while other firms will never use them once.
The best way to get software that fits all of your needs is to get one that offers software integration. When you can integrate your software like calendars, video conferencing apps, and document-sharing software, you will have all of your frequently-used apps in one place, which will make the software even more useful and able to meet your unique needs.
Key Features to Look For
- Unlimited storage capacity
- Variety of app integration options
- User-friendly integration features
When you find software that has many different integration capabilities, you are essentially getting customizable software. This will ensure that the software is able to meet all of your needs and better help you complete tasks.
Things to Consider When Searching for the Best Technology For Attorneys
When you are looking for helpful technology, there are several things that you need to take into consideration. Furthermore, you don’t just need to assess your needs; you need to assess the needs of the entire firm as well.
Here are some things to think about before you choose which technology is best suited for you and your firm.
Understanding Firm’s Size and Scope
The first thing that you should look at is the size of your firm. How many employees do you have? Are you getting a regular stream of new clients?
If you have a small firm, you might want to look at a software or tool that nurtures growth. Additionally, if you have a big firm with plenty of employees, you will want software that helps to streamline communication, remind you of deadlines, and other tools that help to make your office more efficient.
Identifying Key Processes and Workflows
In addition to considering the size of your firm, you also need to look at the efficiency. Take inventory of how many meetings are missed, if calls are being returned in a timely manner, and how long it takes to file paperwork each day.
By identifying the areas that your firm is struggling with, you will be more equipped to make an educated decision about the case management system, client communication, document management, and other software that is required to help your firm succeed.
Scalability
Whether you have a small to medium-sized form or your firm is large and has been well-established for many years, scalability is an important feature for any type of legal software.
When you choose software for your firm, you want to be sure that it can grow with your firm. It must be able to keep up with increasing demand without diminishing speed or user experience.
It is also important that the tool you choose is able to be completely customized to fit your needs. Integration capabilities are a great way to customize software. Before you purchase any type of tool for your firm, speak with the vendor and see if they offer other customization options.
Training Staff
There are common growing pains that most firms go through when implementing new software into their firm. In order to ensure that the implementation is smooth and painless, the vendor should provide adequate training.
Talk to the vendor before you decide to purchase the new software. Ask if there is a free trial available so that you and your team can go through all of the features on your own time. Then, if you are having difficulties with any particular feature, see if the vendor is willing to offer a training session to ensure that everyone is able to successfully use the software.
MyLegalSoftware is an Essential Technology for Attorneys
If you are looking for immigration software that can streamline client communication, nurture team collaboration, offer a variety of case management solutions, ensure that you stay on task and meet deadlines, and offer a suite of accounting features to help you keep track of cash flows, you need to check out MyLegalSoftware.
MyLegasSoftware’s case management system, called ImmigrationSpeed, is an all-in-one solution that is designed to help improve every aspect of your firm. Not only does the software come with a variety of tools to help you streamline your daily operations, but it also comes with a variety of services to help you grow your business.
When you choose MyLS, you will get lead generation, speaking opportunities, and other services that are designed to help your firm grow. You also get a world-class case management system to help you manage all of your new clients. If you want to see how MyLS can help your firm, request your free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type of Technology is Beneficial to Attorneys?
Attorneys can benefit from many high-tech tools. Case management systems with client portals, task managers, auditing tools, and other automated tools can help improve efficiency in any law firm.
All of the necessary tools are sold separately by many different vendors. However, if you purchase a comprehensive case management system, you will get all of these features in one cost-effective package.
What is the Best Immigration Software for Lawyers?
MyLegalSoftware is the best immigration software on the market. This software has an intuitive interface, easy-to-access features, and a variety of helpful tools that will allow you to complete your daily tasks in half the time while also staying organized.
Not only does this software come with innovative features, but it is also packaged with your choice of growth plan. With these plans, leads are generated for you every month. These packages also offer speaking opportunities and other services that can increase visibility.
How Can New Technology Help Law Firms?
Law firms that do not utilize the latest technology risk falling behind their competitors. When they adopt various tech tools into their firm, they are able to streamline tasks, improve customer satisfaction, and improve efficiency within their firm.
