Law Update: Spending less

The past year has seen a reduction in spending on information technology by law firms, according to the latest legal IT survey carried out by the chartered accountants Robson Rhodes. The spending that has taken place has tended to be on 'back office' and word processing systems, and opening out current data for access by fee-earning staff.

The survey notes that the use of technology by fee earners has increased, with some 11 per cent of firms now supplying work stations to all partners. The use by barristers is greater per head than that of solicitors. Fee-earner support systems are providing competitive advantages, with more than 70 per cent of the firms with such systems having achieved their objectives.