A full 82% of legal firms aim to invest in speech recognition technology going forward, according to a research report from Nuance Communications Inc.
Censuswide was commissioned to conduct a survey of 1,000 legal professionals and 20 IT decision-makers in the UK, which was carried out from 23 June to 25 June. Respondents were asked questions regarding their use of technology after the government recommended that offices close earlier this year, and whether they felt properly equipped to work remotely.
25% of legal professionals did not feel properly equipped for remote work when the government advice came down earlier this year. When asked in the Censuswide survey, 56% of respondents reported that they lacked the adequate productivity tools to do their jobs as effectively from home as they could in the office.
However, 80% of respondents who used speech recognition technology for document creation in some form during this period said that they felt properly equipped.
It was also discovered that, in cases where they did not utilise voice recognition software tools, 67% of legal professionals reportedly spent between 2 and 4 hours a day typing. Only 19% made use of internal typists, and 5% used external transcription services on a regular basis.
82% of organizations surveyed said that they were looking to invest further in voice recognition technology going forward, and 62% of legal professionals who were not currently using them said that they would in future.
“The pandemic has accelerated a trend that was already underway, as many modern legal firms move to embrace new ways of working and make the most of digitalisation. In this time of economic uncertainty, legal professionals are under more pressure than ever to deliver high quality outputs – including documents – at speed, all whilst upholding the highest standards of data security,” said Ed McGuiggan, General Manager at Nuance Communications.
McGuiggan noted that speech recognition was likely to become an essential tool in order to cope with the legal profession’s new demands. “While it is undeniable that recent months have brought challenges for the legal sector, they have also presented an opportunity to further reform some outdated methods and attitudes,” he said.
A full 82% of legal firms aim to invest in speech recognition technology going forward, according to a research report from Nuance Communications Inc.
Censuswide was commissioned to conduct a survey of 1,000 legal professionals and 20 IT decision-makers in the UK, which was carried out from 23 June to 25 June. Respondents were asked questions regarding their use of technology after the government recommended that offices close earlier this year, and whether they felt properly equipped to work remotely.
25% of legal professionals did not feel properly equipped for remote work when the government advice came down earlier this year. When asked in the Censuswide survey, 56% of respondents reported that they lacked the adequate productivity tools to do their jobs as effectively from home as they could in the office.
However, 80% of respondents who used speech recognition technology for document creation in some form during this period said that they felt properly equipped.
It was also discovered that, in cases where they did not utilise voice recognition software tools, 67% of legal professionals reportedly spent between 2 and 4 hours a day typing. Only 19% made use of internal typists, and 5% used external transcription services on a regular basis.
82% of organisations surveyed said that they were looking to invest further in voice recognition technology going forward, and 62% of legal professionals who were not currently using them said that they would in future.
“The pandemic has accelerated a trend that was already underway, as many modern legal firms move to embrace new ways of working and make the most of digitalisation. In this time of economic uncertainty, legal professionals are under more pressure than ever to deliver high quality outputs – including documents – at speed, all whilst upholding the highest standards of data security,” said Ed McGuiggan, General Manager at Nuance Communications.
McGuiggan noted that speech recognition was likely to become an essential tool in order to cope with the legal profession’s new demands. “While it is undeniable that recent months have brought challenges for the legal sector, they have also presented an opportunity to further reform some outdated methods and attitudes,” he said.
Law firms depend on documentation to serve their clients, prepare for cases, and ensure they have the most updated information. Traditionally, inputting this information into the requisite legal systems has been subject to human error and is time-consuming, requiring hours of typing or writing. Meanwhile, firms are also under pressure to keep costs low in an effort to maintain efficiency for their clients and retain their business. These challenges have only grown as a result of the pandemic, which has forced more lawyers to work remotely, requiring them to keep careful, accurate documentation without their usual tools and workspace.
Ironically, the answer to solving these new problems may be in a “new/old” skill: dictation coupled with speech recognition technology, which is making a comeback in the legal space. Vastly improved from the days of tape recorders and Dictaphones, speech recognition today is automated and incorporates the power of AI to provide better, faster, and more accurate record-keeping. When weaved into speech recognition tools, conversational AI helps with productivity and collaboration, while also reducing costs and making lawyers’ lives easier. Perhaps this trend is best summarized by the American Bar Association, which has stated, “The advent of voice-recognition dictation has ushered in an entirely new and streamlined way to dictate documents.”
The idea of using recordings and subsequent transcription is not new, especially in the legal space. Originally built off Thomas Edison’s phonograph—the first recording device invented—dictation machines have been used across industries for years to make it easier for professionals to record meetings, classes, or other important events so that they did not have to take arduous notes. The discs and tapes could then be played back so that someone could transcribe them.
This was an extremely popular practice in the legal industry, as it would save lawyers from having to transcribe every meeting or court appearance they attended. However, speech recognition was not without challenges in the modern workplace, as shared workspaces became the norm, making it harder for workers to leverage speech recognition devices without disturbing their colleagues. In fact, a 2015 study conducted by Avanta Serviced Office Group found that 42% of respondents list conversations and people talking as the most annoying office noise. This sentiment only started to change as voice-powered personal assistants rose to popularity—particularly in office settings. mean
By combining the power of speech recognition with new technology like AI, law firms can increase productivity while also decreasing costs. First and foremost, adding AI into speech recognition enables advanced accuracy and thoroughness capabilities, which eliminate the need for anyone to transcribe notes. Instead, when users dictate, the speech recognition software uses algorithms to transcribe the spoken word, rather than simply recording it. Not only does this save valuable time—it’s up to three times faster than typing—but it also eliminates the potential for human error that often occurs during a manual transcription.
With lawyers spending less time documenting everything needed for a case, costs for clients are significantly decreased, and risk is mitigated—leading to improved experiences and an increased likelihood for them to be repeat customers. Meanwhile, lawyers are freed of the burden of time-intensive paperwork, enabling them to quickly switch to higher value, client-facing, and strategic tasks. Not only will this improve the law firm’s output, but job satisfaction is also likely to increase with attorneys and other legal professionals able to focus on their “real job” of serving clients.
While security may arise as a concern with AI technology, many solutions allow for encryption options and server protection to ensure all sensitive data is secure and only accessible by those in the firm using the technology. However, law firms should address their concerns with technology partners upfront to guarantee their needs are met, and privacy is upheld.
Keeping costs low while also keeping morale and productivity high is no small feat—particularly during a pandemic, as individuals adjust to the predominantly remote world. While speech recognition may not be the first solution that comes to mind, the new, AI-enabled platforms available to law firms today have completely revolutionized what was once a tool of the past. By turning to AI-enabled solutions, law firms can confidently navigate difficult times with grace and agility, secure client retention, and give their employees the tools needed to succeed.
The mystique around AI technology is driving a tendency for lawyers, especially those working in small practices, to believe that it’s inaccessible. And, it is a luxury that only larger legal firms and departments can afford. The increased adoption and availability of AI solutions is proving that it is not only accessible but may be necessary.
Firms of all sizes are turning to AI-powered technologies to steer them towards innovative approaches to meet their clients’ needs and automate business processes. Legal tech spending hit $1 billion last year, with lawyers embracing new tools like case management software such as eDiscovery, mandated in some states. AI-based solutions are now being used to automate processes like patent tracking and are extending into services like live video-streaming to better connect with clients.
As with every innovation, the legal industry finds both pros and cons to adopting new technologies. In a recent Forbes article, legal professionals are battling both the benefits of deploying AI-based solutions into their practices, as well as the human toll these may have. The fear that these solutions can eliminate positions, like paralegal and legal research and reduce the number of billable hours a lawyer can charge is substantial.
Regardless of this, law office productivity software, in particular, continues to be in great demand. For a profession that is highly document-based, tools like customized legal speech recognition offer many benefits when it comes to creating and managing legal documentation. The ability to easily dictate or transcribe audio files gives lawyers tremendous flexibility in ensuring comprehensive and accurate data is captured and distributed within critical practice and case management systems.
AI can seem intimidating. As new tools and technologies emerge faster than ever, it can feel hard to keep up. Legal professionals realize that this trend will continue and they need to embrace solutions that will empower them to be more productive and meet the evolving expectations of clients.
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