Chicago law firms, like the rest of the country’s businesses, are hopping on the green bandwagon. The benefits of an environmentally friendly business can be both altruistic and economical, allowing firms to practice corporate responsibility while focusing on waste reduction and efficiency. Whether attorneys start a recycling policy, decide to go paperless, or institute energy savings with lights and other appliances, firms are taking steps to reduce their ecological impact.

However, examining a firm’s computing needs can take the green initiative a step further. A new way of running law firm software has arrived with a profoundly positive effect on the environment. While traditional, installed software requires hardware and headaches, Software as a Service (SaaS) and the Cloud help decrease electricity consumption and reduce landfill materials considerably.