The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 forced the workplace to undergo a massive experiment. Within weeks, in some cases just a few days, entire companies switched from office-based to remote work. Many were surprised by the positive effects of remote working on productivity, health, and job satisfaction.

Leaders must decide on the future of work as firms adapt to a post-pandemic world. Some companies may return to full-time, in-person employment; others may allow full-time jobs from home. Many firms have hybrid work environments that combine both. Accenture’s Future of Work Study 2021 polled just under 10,000 hybrid workers. 83% of respondents said they preferred a hybrid model that allows them to work from home at least 25% of the time.

It is a necessary adjustment to ensure that everyone can communicate and collaborate efficiently. A hybrid workplace offers many benefits. However, they can only be realized with a legal project management solution. Implementing the right solution can optimize four key areas at your firm.

Onboarding

New employees should feel a sense of belonging to their firm and understand their responsibilities. They can feel more valued if they know their company has invested in implementing robust onboarding strategies. A virtual onboarding system is essential to retaining the best talent. Automating onboarding tasks will give you more time to ensure your employees are ready to start their new roles.

Remote onboarding offers flexibility and convenience to new hires. You need a platform that lets you keep all your employees and managers informed, provides them with immediate access to information, and gives them confidence in their ability to adapt.

Collaboration

No matter where team members are located, they need easy access to legal documents and materials. Document collaboration is joint in law firms, but managing it can be challenging given the volume of work involved. Your firm must have technology that allows all employees to work together seamlessly. This will take the hard work out of teamwork.

The right LPM tool can help your firm:

Create engaging client portals.

Create one source of truth with updates in real-time, activities, tasks, and more.

Manage, share, and collaborate with sensitive documents and content securely in project workspaces.

Share and visualize project status, budget, and other important metrics with all parties. This allows for full transparency.

Productivity

Hybrid work models, if implemented correctly, can increase productivity. According to Forbes, 88% of employees with more control over where and how they work are happier and have a better working day.

Two other studies found that remote and hybrid workers were 22% more satisfied than office workers onsite and were more likely to stay in their jobs. When working from home, they experienced less stress and increased productivity. 56% of respondents said that they had experienced mental health improvement, better work-life integration, and increased physical activity. These are all significant health benefits.

The freedom to choose where you work and flexibility can increase employee productivity and happiness. However, mundane and repetitive tasks such as dealing with an overflowing inbox or developing tasks and deadlines can be time-consuming and unproductive. To ensure that hybrid work is successful, it’s essential to provide the right tools for team members. These include communication, feedback, and collaboration. Modern legal work solutions help employees prioritize, organize and coordinate projects effectively.

Client communication

Clients appreciate when attorneys communicate with them about important details and give them a place to get information. The most efficient and secure tools will provide clients with the confidence that communication lines are always open and their information is safe.

In a hybrid environment, it is essential to have a place where you can communicate and collaborate and share files. Everyone can do their best work, whether they are at the office or at home. It’s essential to optimize your legal tech to make the hybrid model successful and reap all its benefits, not only for your firm but also for your clients.

Optimize your hybrid work environment.

Legal project management software can increase the value of your firm to potential new employees, improve client satisfaction, and keep your attorneys happy, no matter where they work.