The shape of our paper-based service has changed dramatically over the last 2 years. Prior to covid and the technological advancements it has produced, large court bundles requiring printing, organising, and legal photocopying services were the norm, with the occasional request made to scan in archived files to create more accessible online copies. Now, 90% of the work we receive is received electronically for FTP or as hardcopy to be scanned into electronic bundles. A noticeable shift towards e-documents has been observed, clearly accelerated by the pandemic. So what does this say for the future of 'physical' legal services as technology continues to advance and concepts such as the Metaverse begin to take shape?
FTP - File Transfer Protocol - a coded set of rules (that differ between software) for the transferring of digital files.
Here at Altlaw, we are lucky that of our two businesses, one is firmly rooted in the future and the cutting edge, while the other is more rooted in the past - which is not necessarily a bad place to be! I have written several posts/LinkedIn articles on the impact the Metaverse may have on the practice of law concerning the eDiscovery side of the business - you can read one here - The Metaverse and the Law. However, I am yet to look at how the Metaverse might affect businesses that sell a more physical product/service.
Of the physical services offered by Altlaw - document printing, trial bundling and archive scanning to name a few, it is clear to see that some will be very well suited to, if not necessary for legal professionals in the lead-up to the age of the Metaverse, while others, though not integral in a business' move towards Metaverse preparedness, provide a safe alternative option for those warier of the risks of storing data in the Metaverse.
Archive Scanning:
I think it goes without saying that as society moves towards a future in the Metaverse, having online accessible versions of your documents will be a necessity, not a luxury. As such, the use of scanning software to create digital copies of old case files and archived data is expected to increase significantly in the near future, and companies/businesses should look into making preparations for this eventuality.
By scanning and collating digital copies of legacy data now you are not only ensuring a smooth transition to a more technological future, but you will also beat the rush to do so once the rest of the industry realises that electronically storing information is the most efficient way to operate within a Metaversal environment.
It should be noted, however, that while having accessible online versions of your documents is very important, I would also recommend retaining your hardcopies for a regulated amount of time. Preferably, a timeframe that corresponds with the type of data you hold and your obligations under GDPR. This should ensure that should there be a technology crisis you are still able to access your data.
