The last few years have seen rapid advancements in technological solutions across industries in response to the global pandemic and increasingly remote-friendly work culture. The legal industry is no different, as many technologies such as AI, remote depositions, and digital reporting now factor into routine litigation in 2023.
In the 2023 Litigation Support Trend Survey, U.S. Legal Support asked lawyers and legal professionals what technology trends they observed in 2023, and how they expect their use of technology to change in 2024.
Now, the results are in—check out the findings below.
→ Missed the full survey results? Click here to download the litigation support trends infographic.
Top Legal Technology Trends from 2023
An overall theme from 2023 was the persistent investment in technology by law firms nationwide. While the legal industry may be slower to adopt new technologies than other industries, the benefits of leveraging technology are undeniable. 32% of respondents to our survey believed their firms will increase investment in tech in 2024.
We noted that firms are on the lookout for technology that can help them find efficiencies in daily operations and help keep their data secure and accessible. Some of the most exciting opportunities firms explored in 2023 were Artificial Intelligence (AI), remote depositions, and digital reporting.
In each section below, we’ll detail our key findings on these emerging technologies and how firms plan to continue investing or expand their usage in 2024.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
AI describes the practice of teaching machines, computers, and software to think like humans—make intelligent decisions, fluently respond to questions, recognize speech patterns, and perform actions automatically in response to learned triggers.
In response to our 2023 Litigation Trends survey, legal professionals listed the following as their primary applications of AI in their daily workflow:
- Research (19%)
- Predictive analysis (15%)
- Document management (15%)
- Task automation (14%)
AI in Legal Research
As highlighted in our survey, legal research is one of the primary areas where AI can have the most impact for its time-saving and streamlining capabilities.
An article by the American Bar Association suggests that automated legal research can free up time and mental energy for attorneys. Legal research can be a tedious, taxing process— by letting a computer do the first round of heavy lifting, legal professionals can refocus on an intelligently filtered selection of relevant records.
AI’s assistance in research can also grant a lawyer enhanced confidence in their research results. Knowing an AI model has already performed a comprehensive review can allow legal professionals to complete the higher-level creative and intellectual analysis of the machine-refined research materials.
The Future of AI for Legal Professionals
When asked how familiar they were with AI, 43% of survey respondents answered that they were “somewhat familiar,” and 16% said they were “very familiar” compared to 24% that were “not so familiar.”
This lack of confidence in AI competency may be because 51% of respondents confirmed that their firm does not yet employ AI technologies. However, 25% of respondents expect their firm’s use of AI to increase in 2024. And 45% of respondents agree with the statement: “AI tools will become mainstream in the legal profession within the next 3-5 years.”
Firms looking to implement AI technologies can expect many benefits. In our survey, the top benefit reported by professionals who use AI was efficiency for administrative tasks (45%), followed closely by reduced costs (35%). As the benefits of secure and ethical AI usage in the legal industry become more recognized, it’s hard to imagine an eventuality where most firms don’t use AI in some capacity.
Prevalence of Remote Depositions
As the legal industry adapted to remote operations during 2020’s global pandemic, remote depositions became the new norm for bringing participants together via web and/or telephone conference.
According to the Boston Bar Association, a return to pre-pandemic frequencies of in-person deposition is unlikely due to the enhanced efficiency and lower cost for clients. Our 2023 Litigation Support Trend Survey confirmed that many firms still utilize remote depositions and plan to continue to do so in 2024 and beyond.
Remote Depositions: The Numbers
We asked lawyers what the future will hold for remote depositions. Here are their candid opinions:
- 45% of respondents think the use of remote depositions will stay the same in 2024
- 38% of respondents say remote depositions will increase in 2024
One significant benefit to firms aligning themselves with a litigation support services provider is the technological expertise and assistance these vendors can offer, such as seamless remote deposition solutions.
Tips for Successful Remote Depositions in 2024 and Beyond
To ensure smooth sailing on your remote deposition day, here are some helpful tips to prepare for a remote deposition:
- Before the Deposition – Make sure to test your equipment at least 24 hours before the virtual deposition starts to ensure there are no technical issues. Double-check your webcam is functional and test the strength of your internet connection. Determine which audio option in your settings provides the best quality and make it the default setting.
- During the Deposition – Locate a distraction-free space and ensure preparedness by establishing a connection 15-20 minutes before the virtual deposition goes live. Ensure any exhibits you need to access are readily available on your device.
- Additional Tips – Communicate your additional needs to your litigation services partner, such as a videographer or breakout rooms ahead of time. Premium litigation support service vendors like U.S. Legal Support also offer exhibit-sharing solutions to ease the burden on you during your remote deposition.
Discover even more best practices for remote depositions in our guide.
Digital Reporting
With digital reporting, certified Digital Reporters use state-of-the-art recording equipment and software to record the audio from a legal proceeding to produce a verbatim transcript. Leveraging a Digital Reporter can help mitigate the effects of the nationwide Stenographer shortage by helping to ensure coverage. According to Law Practice Today, Stenographers are in shorter supply today than ever. This shortage will likely worsen as the current generation of Stenographers retire faster than new Stenographers can replace them.
Our survey asked firms if they took advantage of digital reporting services in 2023. About 32% of respondents reported having leveraged a digital reporter, and 27% of respondents said they plan to use digital reporting in 2024.
Sources:
American Bar Association. 7 Ways artificial intelligence can benefit your law firm. https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/publications/youraba/2017/september-2017/7-ways-artificial-intelligence-can-benefit-your-law-firm/
American Bar Association. 7 Ways artificial intelligence can benefit your law firm. https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/publications/youraba/2017/september-2017/7-ways-artificial-intelligence-can-benefit-your-law-firm/
Boston Bar Association. Love Them or Hate Them, Remote Depositions are Here to Stay. https://bostonbar.org/journal/love-them-or-hate-them-remote-depositions-are-here-to-stay/
Law Practice Today. Digital Reporting and Alternative Capture Methods: What You Need to Know. https://www.lawpracticetoday.org/article/digital-reporting-alternative-capture/
