Achieving efficiency is reportedly lawyers' top priority across the ditch.
But reluctance to incorporate cloud services and other digital processes into legal practice is preventing the profession from realising the benefits of 21st century technology, according to a recent Australian survey of law firms.
The survey, conducted in February by InfoTrack and InPlace Solutions, revealed that 60% of lawyers believed the biggest impediment to achieving greater efficiencies in legal service delivery was the profession's resistance to adopt technologies that improve productivity and reduce risk.
More than 56% of respondents cited "data sovereignty" as their primary concern with cloud services – that is, ambiguities around ownership of digitally stored data – and 46.7% said concerns about "data privacy" were the primary reason for resistance to cloud technology.
Other hurdles to achieving technology-enabled efficiencies included; cost (20%) and the need for management support (20%).
Chief executive of InfoTrack John Ahern told Lawyers Weekly that lawyers' concerns are legitimate, but can be overcome.
"The technology juggernaut continues to redefine the profession," he said.
"Firms that embrace the technology and tolls that enable them to deliver better service more cost efficiently will prosper.
"Those that don't probably won't survive to tell the tale."